Abstract
The study evaluated the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in a sample of Brazilian workers from different segments, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The correlation between the anxiety and depression scales of the screening instruments was also verified. Data were collected online using three instruments: a sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - Short Form and the Occupational Mental Health Inventory. A total of 503 professionals participated, of which 78.5% were female, with an average age of 41.38 years, of which 92% attended higher education and resided in the southern region of Brazil. Both scales detected a higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms in women (54.3% and 59.9%) and in single people (68.8% and 68.1%). There was a significant association between outcomes of anxiety and depression symptoms and the prevalence of two independent variables: contact with people diagnosed with COVID-19 and feeling worried about the pandemic. The Occupational Mental Health Inventory showed greater sensitivity to assess anxiety symptoms and discriminate between workers who have symptoms and those who indicate having mental health, when compared to the other instrument. Longitudinal studies are suggested to capture the long-term effects of the outcomes evaluated, in order to improve the analysis of predictors of critical and non-critical values of symptoms of mental health problems.
Keywords:
workers; prevalence; anxiety; depression; Covid-19