Factors Influencing the Worsening Psychological Distress of Argentine Health Care Personnel Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the factors that influenced the worsening of the psychological well-being of health personnel involved in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in Argentina. A questionnaire was administered to 1458 health personnel. Time and exposure to the disease were studied, with time having a greater influence than exposure on psychological distress. Both time and exposure significantly influenced coping. When studying the weight of personal stressors, work stressors, time, and exposure on the indicators of depression, anxiety, and intolerance to uncertainty, it was found that (except in the case of anxiety), work concerns outweighed personal concerns. With respect to the weight of time and exposure, only the former had an incidence of about 10%. Time was also found to moderate the relationship between stressors and depression.