COVID-19 Prevention and Control Workers Face Mental Health Issues Amidst Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

COVID-19 prevention and control workers in China have been exposed to heavy workloads and a high risk of infection, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, insomnia, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent study conducted among 346 prevention and control workers in 46 cities across 14 provinces in China from February to March 2020 found that most workers experienced decreased sleep quality and had mild fatigue. Workers who had direct contact with COVID-19 patients had statistically significant higher PTSD levels compared to those who did not. The study suggests that arranging working hours rationally and conducting professional psychological counseling are essential to ensure the physical and mental health of prevention and control workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prevention and control workers in China have been exposed to heavy workloads and a high risk of infection, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, insomnia, and symptoms of PTSD.
  • A cross-sectional study of 346 prevention and control workers in 46 cities across 14 provinces in China found that most workers experienced decreased sleep quality and had mild fatigue.
  • Workers who had direct contact with COVID-19 patients had statistically significant higher PTSD levels compared to those who did not.
  • The study suggests that arranging working hours rationally and conducting professional psychological counseling are essential to ensure the physical and mental health of prevention and control workers.
  • Non-probabilistic convenience sampling and snowball sampling were used to collect data, including data on fatigue, sleep quality, and PTSD symptoms.
  • Descriptive analysis, chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, ordered logistic regression, and binary logistic regression analysis were employed in the study.
  • The study was conducted among prevention and control workers in 46 cities across 14 provinces in China from February to March 2020.
  • The researchers used examination of fatigued states, sleep quality, PTSD symptoms, and worker exposure to COVID-19 to identify influencing factors.

Statistics:

  • 346 prevention and control workers participated in the study.
  • The study was conducted in 46 cities across 14 provinces in China.
  • 55.2% of participants experienced decreased sleep quality.
  • 74.9% of participants had mild fatigue.
  • Workers who had direct contact with COVID-19 patients had 2.47 times higher PTSD levels compared to those who did not (P < .0001).

Sources:

  • Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):35414.
  • Nature Publishing Group - www.nature.com/.
  • Scientific Reports - www.nature.com/srep/.
  • Yao Zhang, Health Department, Daying County Disease Control and Prevention Center, Suining, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
  • Yixing Guo, Laiye Han, Yihan Wang, Tian Zhong, Ying Xiao, Lawrence T. Lam, Chunmei Wu, and Xi Yu.