Differences in Depression and Anxiety Symptom Networks Between Food Delivery Riders and Goods Couriers - China, 2022

Platform workers' mental health is an increasing global concern. Depression rates ranged from 16.8% (67/400) to 31.9% (362/1,136), and anxiety rates from 46.0% (302/657) to 62.9% (95/151), significantly higher than general occupational population.

The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among platform-delivery workers was 22.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 22.3%, 23.1%] and 10.4% (95% CI: 10.1%, 10.8%), respectively. Food delivery riders had significantly higher depression and anxiety symptoms prevalence than goods couriers (all P<0.001). Network analysis identified "Motor disturbance" as the most central symptom in both groups (goods couriers: 1.496; food delivery riders: 1.342), followed by "Uncontrollable worry" (1.032) among food delivery riders, and "Fatigue" (1.091) among goods couriers. "Suicide ideation" served as the key bridging symptom.

Given their unique work environments, targeted interventions are recommended for both groups, focusing specific on depression and anxiety symptom networks identified in this study.