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Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 24931

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rui She

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Guest Editor

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hongkong, China
Interests: mental health; behavioral health; health promotion; health psychology; aging research; minority populations; adolescents

Dr. Shanquan Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QY, UK
Interests: mental health; depression; antidepressants; health service research; health economics; health policy; epidemiological; risk factors; clinical and practice

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Occupational tasks and environments are important influencers on an individual’s mental, social, and behavioral wellbeing. For instance, the mental health vulnerability of health personnel has been highlighted during outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases. While occupational groups’ mental and behavioral health may have long-term implications for the workforce, disease burden, and economic development, innovative strategies for promoting mental and behavioral health of occupational groups are urgently needed. This Special Issue will feature selected contributions on advances in identifying mental and behavioral health vulnerabilities, characteristics, and associated factors among various occupational groups, as well as health prevention programs to promote mental and behavioral health-targeting specific occupational groups.

Occupational health;
Psychological wellbeing;
Risky health behaviors;
Work-related health risks;
Mechanisms and interplay of mental and behavioral health problems;
Health promotion for occupational groups.

Dr. Rui She
Dr. Shanquan Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

occupational health
psychological well-being
risky health behaviors
stress
work-related health risks
health promotion

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“My Cross-Border PhD Journey”: A Qualitative Study on the Educational and Life Challenges of Mainland Chinese PhD Students in Hong Kong

by Jing Jia and Nelson C. Y. Yeung

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(12), 6078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126078 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2188

Abstract

PhD students’ poor mental health has been increasingly concerning. However, challenges among PhD students studying aboard are understudied. The Educational and Life Transitions (ELT) model postulates that international PhD students are subject to both academic and acculturative stressors; however, relevant research is limited in the Chinese context. We examined mainland Chinese PhD students’ study and living experiences in Hong Kong using a qualitative approach. Through purposive sampling, 37 mainland Chinese PhD students in different disciplines from public-funded universities in Hong Kong were recruited to participate in online focus group interviews (December 2020–February 2021). The interviews were analyzed using the framework analysis method. Ten themes of academic/acculturative stressors were identified. The academic stressors included: (1) high expectations from the supervisors; (2) emphasis on self-discipline as PhD students; (3) peer comparison in academia; (4) difficulties shifting research directions/academic disciplines; (5) uncertainties about future career. The acculturative stressors included: (1) differences in the political environment; (2) language barriers; (3) difficulties living in Hong Kong; (4) limited social interaction with others; (5) local people’s discriminatory behaviors. This study sheds light on the stressors experienced by mainland Chinese PhD students in Hong Kong. To better address those students’ academic and acculturative stressors, cross-cultural training and additional support from supervisors/the university could be provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

16 pages, 724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low Behavioral Intention to Use Any Type of HIV Testing and HIV Self-Testing among Migrant Male Factory Workers Who Are at High Risk of HIV Infection in China: A Secondary Data Analysis

by Kechun Zhang, Paul Shing-fong Chan, Xinyue Li, Yuan Fang, Yong Cai, Huachun Zou, Bolin Cao, He Cao, Tian Hu, Yaqi Chen and Zixin Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 5029; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065029 - 13 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1718

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with behavioral intention to take up any type of HIV testing and HIV self-testing (HIVST) in the next six months among male migrant workers, who were at high risk of HIV infection, in Shenzhen, China. This was a secondary data analysis. A total of 363 subjects who had sexual intercourse with non-regular female sex partners and/or female sex workers in the past six months were selected. Logistic regression models were fitted for data analysis. About 16.5% of participants reported having used HIV testing in their lifetime and 12.7% for HIVST. Among the participants, 25.6% and 23.7% intended to take up any type of HIV testing and HIVST in the next six months, respectively. Significant factors associated with the behavioral intention to take up HIV testing and HIVST included individual-level factors based of the Health Belief Model (e.g., perceived benefit, perceived cue to action, perceived self-efficacy) and interpersonal-level factors (e.g., frequency of exposure to health-related content or HIV and STI-related content on short video apps). This study provided practical implications for designing interventions to increase the uptake of HIV testing and HIVST among migrant workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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11 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Workplace Violence against Health Care Providers in Emergency Departments of Public Hospitals in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Osama Al Khatib, Hana Taha, Lujain Al Omari, Mohammed Qussay Al-Sabbagh, Abdallah Al-Ani, Faysal Massad and Vanja Berggren

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3675; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043675 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2848

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare providers is a serious problem that carries health, safety, and legal consequences. Healthcare providers working in emergency departments (ED) are more susceptible to WPV compared to other healthcare settings. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of physical and verbal violence against ED physicians and nurses in public hospitals in Amman, Jordan, and to explore the relationship between WPV and the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to assess physical and verbal violence against ED physicians and nurses. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 67 physicians and 96 nurses from three public hospitals in Amman. In the past year, 33% and 53% of the participants experienced physical and verbal violence, respectively. Compared to their female counterparts, males were more frequently physically (43.7% vs. 2.3%, p-value < 0.001) and verbally (61.3% vs. 29.5%, p-value < 0.001) abused. The main perpetrators of physical and verbal violence were the patients’ relatives. Out of 53 physical and 86 verbal abuse incidents, only 15 cases (10.8%) were followed up with legal persecution. In conclusion, there is a widespread occurrence of physical and verbal violence against ED physicians and nurses in the public sector hospitals in Jordan. A collaborative effort by all stakeholders should be instituted to ensure the safety of the physicians and nurses and to improve the quality of the healthcare provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

14 pages, 636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of an Online Mindfulness-Based Practice Program on the Mental Health of Brazilian Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Edilaine Cristina da Silva Gherardi-Donato, Kranya Victoria Díaz-Serrano, Marina Rodrigues Barbosa, Maria Neyrian de Fátima Fernandes, Walusa Assad Gonçalves-Ferri, Elton Brás Camargo Júnior and Emilene Reisdorfer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3666; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043666 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3098

Abstract

This quantitative, before-after study was developed to evaluate the usefulness of an online mindfulness practices program to help nursing professionals deal with stress in the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic through the assessment of perceived stress, anxiety and depression, levels of mindfulness, and participants’ satisfaction with the program. Eligible participants were assessed at baseline to receive the online mindfulness training program for eight weeks and were appraised again at the end of the program. Standardized measures of perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and one-dimensional and multidimensional mindfulness were performed. Participant satisfaction was also studied. Adherence to treatment was 70.12%. The perceived stress, depression, and anxiety scores were significantly lower after the intervention. The mindfulness measure increased significantly, as well as the sense of well-being and satisfaction with life, study, and/or work. The participants showed high satisfaction with the program and would recommend it to other professionals. Our results indicate that mindfulness-based interventions represent an effective strategy for nurses in the face of the need for self-care with mental health and mechanisms that guarantee the sustainability of their capacities to continue exercising health care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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16 pages, 368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multifaceted Determinants of Sexual Intercourse with Non-Regular Female Sex Partners and Female Sex Workers among Male Factory Workers in China—A Cross-Sectional Survey

by Kechun Zhang, Siyu Chen, Shiben Zhu, Yuan Fang, Huachun Zou, Yong Cai, Bolin Cao, He Cao, Yaqi Chen, Tian Hu and Zixin Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16008; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316008 - 30 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1985

Abstract

With a stratified multi-stage sampling approach, 1361 male factory workers in the Longhua district of the Shenzhen Municipality of China were selected to investigate the multifaceted determinants of sexual intercourse with non-regular female sex partners (NRP) and female sex workers (FSW) among them. The results showed that 24.5% and 21.2% of participants had sexual intercourse with NRP and FSW in the past 6 months, respectively. More specifically, at the individual level, perceived higher job stress and maladaptive coping styles were linked with a higher likelihood of having sexual intercourse with NRP and FSW (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] ranged from 1.06 to 1.17). At the interpersonal level, those who had higher exposure to information related to sexual intercourse with NRP or FSW were more likely to have sex with these female sex partners (AOR: 1.08 & 1.11). At the social structural level, perceived social norms supporting multiple sex partnerships were linked with a higher likelihood of having sexual intercourse with NRP and FSW (AOR: 1.10 & 1.11). No interaction effects were found between the variables at different levels. Providing pre-employment training to clarify roles and job duties, introducing adaptive coping strategies, and addressing misconceptions of social norms are useful strategies to reduce sexual intercourse with NRP or FSW. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

10 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Multidomain Dormitory Environment and Roommate Intervention for Improving Sleep Quality of Medical College Students: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in China

by Man Li, Qing Han, Ziqi Pan, Kailu Wang, Junqing Xie, Bang Zheng and Jun Lv

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15337; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215337 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2121

Abstract

Medical students are vulnerable to sleep disorders, which could be further exaggerated by poor dormitory environment and roommate behaviour. However, there is little evidence of whether dormitory environment intervention is effective in improving the sleep quality of medical college students in developing countries. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive multidomain intervention on dormitory environment and roommate behaviour among medical college students in China. In this cluster randomised controlled trial, a total of 106 dormitories (364 students) were randomly allocated into an intervention group (55 dormitories, 193 students) and a control group (51 dormitories, 171 students). The intervention group received a three-month intervention with multiple components to improve or adapt to sleep environments in dormitories; the control group received no intervention. Primary and secondary outcomes were measured at study enrolment and three months later for both groups. The linear mixed-effects models showed that, compared with the control group, the intervention was associated with a significantly decreased Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (β = −0.67, p = 0.012), and a marginally significant effect on reducing roommates’ influence on sleep schedule (β = −0.21, p = 0.066). Students in the intervention group rated “making dormitory sleep rules” and “wearing eye masks” as the most effective intervention measures. These findings could contribute to the limited body of scientific evidence about sleep intervention in Chinese medical students and highlight the importance of dormitory sleep environments in maintaining sleep quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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14 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Positive Affect Moderates the Influence of Perceived Stress on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Xu Wang, Rui Luo, Pengyue Guo, Menglin Shang, Jing Zheng, Yuqi Cai, Phoenix K. H. Mo, Joseph T. F. Lau, Dexing Zhang, Jinghua Li and Jing Gu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013600 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1832

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a profound psychological impact on healthcare workers. However, the role of positive affect in moderating the effect of perceived stress on the psychological states of healthcare workers remains unknown. This study aimed to analyze the moderating effect of positive affect on the association between stress and the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationships between perceived stress (the Perceived Stress Scale), positive affect (the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), depression (the Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and anxiety (the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 644 Chinese healthcare workers who completed online self-reports. The results revealed a significant negative association between positive affect and psychological problems, including stress, depression, and anxiety. At the total group level, multiple regression analysis showed that positive affect alleviated the influence of perceived stress on depression, but no significant moderating effect was found for anxiety. In the subgroups divided by perceived stress, the moderating effect of positive affect on depression was only significant in healthcare workers with a high level of perceived stress. These results suggested that positive affect played a moderative role in alleviating the effect of stress on depression among healthcare workers, particularly those with a high level of stress, thus emphasizing the importance of positive affect as an intervention strategy for promoting the mental health of healthcare workers in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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11 pages, 959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recovery Experiences Protect Emotionally Exhausted White-Collar Workers from Gaming Addiction

by Meng Xuan Zhang, Long W. Lam and Anise M. S. Wu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12543; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912543 - 1 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1635

Abstract

Gaming addiction and its negative consequences have attracted public concern, but relatively little is known regarding its impact on adult workers. This study aims to test the association between gaming addiction and emotional exhaustion as well as the protective effect of recovery experiences on such an association among white-collar workers. We recruited 205 working adults (female = 58%) who voluntarily completed an online questionnaire. The results showed that male and younger workers were more vulnerable to gaming addiction. Emotional exhaustion was significantly and positively associated, while two (i.e., relaxation and control) of the four recovery experiences were negatively correlated with gaming addiction. Control experience had an indirect effect on gaming addiction via emotional exhaustion. Moreover, relaxation experience buffered the risk effect of emotional exhaustion on gaming addiction so that the effect is less pronounced at high levels of relaxation. Interventions are suggested to raise workers’ awareness of effective recovery experiences (especially for control and relaxation) and to facilitate their recovery opportunities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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19 pages, 4990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Questionnaire on the Sense of Workplace Involution for Newly Recruited Employees and Its Relationship with Turnover Intention

by Qi Chen and Yuzhu Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11218; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811218 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2251

Abstract

The term “involution” has become a buzzword in people’s daily communication and online discussion in recent years, and it has been used in many different contexts. However, the concept and structure of workplace involution are still unclear, and there is a lack of valid measurement tools. Objective: To explore the connotation and psychological structure of newly recruited employees’ sense of workplace involution, compile the Questionnaire on the Sense of Workplace Involution for Newly Recruited Employees, and examine its relationship with turnover intention. Methods: Through in-depth interviews with 30 newly recruited employees and based on qualitative research of the data collected by web crawler technology, the entries were compiled, 282 newly recruited employees were initially tested, and 571 newly recruited employees were given a formal questionnaire survey. The findings were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 24.0 for item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The newly recruited employees’ sense of workplace involution and its dimensions were significantly and positively correlated with turnover intention. Newly recruited employees’ sense of workplace involution was a significant and positive predictor of turnover intention. Conclusions: The reliability and validity of the Questionnaire on the Sense of Workplace Involution for Newly Recruited Employees met the needs of psychometric criteria, and the sense of workplace involution of newly recruited employees had a significant positive predictive effect on turnover intention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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15 pages, 542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between COVID-19 Work-Related Stressors and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Chinese Doctors and Nurses: Application of Stress-Coping Theory

by Rui She, Lijuan Li, Qian Yang, Jianyan Lin, Xiaoli Ye, Suliu Wu, Zhenggui Yang, Suzhen Guan, Jianxin Zhang, Rachel Hau Yin Ling and Joseph Tak Fai Lau

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106201 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1737

Abstract

Healthcare workers are vulnerable to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) due to stressful work during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate whether the associations between COVID-19 work-related stressors and PTSS would be mediated by maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies and moderated by perceived family support based on stress-coping theory. An anonymous online survey was conducted among 1449 doctors and nurses in five hospitals in China between October and November 2020 during the “post-outbreak” period. The prevalence of PTSS assessed by the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale Self-Report was 42%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that worries about being infected with COVID-19, perceived difficulties in family caregiving, coping strategies of rumination, catastrophizing, acceptance, and perceived family support were independently associated with PTSS. Furthermore, maladaptive and adaptive coping partially mediated the association between COVID-19 work-related stressors and PTSS.The results of multi-group analyses showed that perceived family support tended to intensify the associations between COVID-19 work-related stressors and adaptive coping and between adaptive coping and PTSS, whereas perceived family support attenuated the positive association between COVID-19 work-related stressors and PTSS. The findings suggest tailor-made health interventions with respect to alleviation of work-related stressors and coping skill training to reduce the risk of PTSS among healthcare workers, especially for those with lower perceived family support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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19 pages, 4153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behavioral Intention to Get a Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine among Chinese Factory Workers

by Kechun Zhang, Yuan Fang, Paul Shing-fong Chan, He Cao, Hongbiao Chen, Tian Hu, Yaqi Chen, Xiaofeng Zhou and Zixin Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5245; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095245 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2342

Abstract

China started to offer a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to members of the adult population in October 2021. This study investigated the behavioral intention to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among factory workers who had completed their primary vaccination series. Participants were full-time factory employees at least 18 years of age in Shenzhen, China. In Shenzhen, factory workers need to receive a physical examination every year. The study sites covered all six organizations providing physical examinations for factory workers. All eligible workers attending these sites between 26 and 31 October 2021 were invited to complete an online survey. This study was based on 2329 participants who had completed the primary COVID-19 vaccination series. Two-level logistic regression models were fitted. Among the participants, 84% intended to receive a free booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine within the next six months. After controlling for significant background characteristics, we found that perceptions related to a booster dose as well as interpersonal level factors such as information exposure on social media, thoughtful consideration of the veracity of the information, and satisfaction with vaccine-related promotional materials were determinants of behavioral intention. Factory workers in China reported a high level of behavioral intention to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental and Behavioral Health of Health Professionals, Essential Workers, and Other Occupational Groups)

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