Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem (Dec 2023)

Work and Mental Distress among Nurses in the Amazon Region of Brazil during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Darci Francisco dos Santos Junior,
  • Marina Nolli Bittencourt,
  • Priscila Maria Marcheti,
  • José Luís da Cunha Pena,
  • Suellen Cristina da Silva Chaves,
  • Angélica Martins de Souza Gonçalves,
  • Alessandra Matheus Domingos,
  • Maria do Perpétuo do Socorro de Sousa Nóbrega

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2022-0792
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 76, no. 6

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the relationship between psychopathological symptoms and the social, clinical, and occupational profile of nurses in the Amazon region of Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional online study was conducted in 2020 with 261 nurses. The Symptom Assessment Scale-40 was utilized. Results: The presence of pre-existing conditions before the pandemic was associated with psychotism (p=0.044). Experiencing constraints and/or violence at work during the pandemic was associated with somatization (p=0.025), and working hours were associated with anxiety (p=0.025). Nurses predominantly exhibited symptoms related to fear (33.7%), tension (34.5%), and a sense that something is wrong in the mind (22.6%). Conclusions: A significant association was observed between working hours and anxiety symptoms, the experience of constraints and/or violence at work during the COVID-19 pandemic and somatization symptoms, as well as between pre-existing conditions and psychotism symptoms related to COVID-19.

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