OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH AFFECTIVE DISORDERS IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Grazia Pula1, Patrizia Moretti1, Innocenza Ritacco2
1Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Psychiatria Danubina
|September 22, 2025
Summary
Nurses experience higher anxiety and depression than other healthcare workers due to occupational stress. Tailored mental health support is vital for hospital staff wellbeing.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychiatry
- Nursing Studies
Background:
- Healthcare workers (HCWs) face significant occupational stressors, leading to increased psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and burnout.
- Nurses may experience heightened psychological distress due to unique workplace demands.
- Limited direct comparisons exist between nurses and other HCWs regarding psychological distress in tertiary care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare work-related stress and mental health outcomes between nurses and other HCWs.
- To analyze psychological and psychiatric support utilization through an Occupational Health Service (OHS).
- To investigate correlations between personal/family psychiatric history and work-related stress.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study of 155 HCWs accessing OHS over three years (Jan 2022-Dec 2024).
- Analysis of sociodemographic, occupational, clinical, and psychometric data.
- Subgroup comparison of nurses (n=79) vs. other HCWs (n=76) on distress, diagnoses, and treatment.
Main Results:
- Nurses showed significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety compared to other HCWs.
- A history of anxiety/mood disorders (26.5% of cohort) correlated significantly with work-related stress and burnout (p<0.001).
- Burnout and secondary traumatic stress were prevalent, while compassion satisfaction was relatively preserved.
Conclusions:
- Nurses are more vulnerable to affective symptoms and work-related stress than other HCWs.
- Tailored mental health support within occupational health frameworks is essential.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for mitigating psychological distress and improving staff wellbeing.
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