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

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.

Work and Mental Distress among Nurses in the Amazon Region of Brazil during the COVID-19 Pandemic / Trabajo y malestar mental entre las enfermeras en la región amazónica de Brasil durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Trabalho e sofrimento mental dos enfermeiros da Região Amazônica do Brasil durante a pandemia de COVID-19

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.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la relación entre los síntomas psicopatológicos y el perfil social, clínico y ocupacional de las enfermeras en la región amazónica de Brasil durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal en línea en 2020 con la participación de 261 enfermeras. Se utilizó la Escala de Evaluación de Síntomas-40. Resultados: Se encontró una asociación significativa entre la presencia de condiciones preexistentes antes de la pandemia y el psicoticismo (p=0,044). Experimentar restricciones y/o violencia en el trabajo durante la pandemia se asoció con la somatización (p=0,025), y las horas de trabajo se relacionaron con la ansiedad (p=0,025). En general, las enfermeras presentaron predominantemente síntomas relacionados con el miedo (33,7%), la tensión (34,5%) y la sensación de que algo no está bien en la mente (22,6%). Conclusiones: Se observó una asociación significativa entre las horas de trabajo y los síntomas de ansiedad, así como entre la experiencia de restricciones y/o violencia laboral durante la pandemia de COVID-19 y los síntomas de somatización. Además, se encontró una asociación entre las condiciones preexistentes y los síntomas de psicoticismo relacionados con COVID-19.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre sintomas psicopatológicos e o perfil social, clínico e laboral dos enfermeiros da região Amazônica do Brasil durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo descritivo de corte transversal online com 261 enfermeiros em 2020. Utilizou-se a Escala de Avaliação de Sintomas-40. Resultados: A presença de doenças preexistentes à pandemia associou-se ao psicoticismo (p=0,044). Ter sofrido constrangimentos e/ou violências no trabalho durante a pandemia associou-se à somatização (p=0,025), e a carga horária de trabalho associou-se à ansiedade (p=0,025). Os enfermeiros manifestaram principalmente sintomas relacionados ao medo (33,7%), tensão (34,5%) e sensação de que algo está errado na mente (22,6%). Conclusões: Foi observada uma associação significativa entre a carga horária de trabalho e sintomas de ansiedade, o sofrimento de constrangimentos e/ou violências durante o trabalho no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19 e sintomas de somatização, bem como entre doenças preexistentes à COVID-19 e sintomas de psicoticismo.