Grazia Pula, Patrizia Moretti, Innocenza Ritacco, Guido Caramanico, Giuseppe De Filippis, R Magnone, Alfonso Tortorella
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Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face significant occupational stressors that increase their risk of psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and burnout. In particular, nurse may experience higher psychological distress due to unique workplace demands. However, direct comparisons between nurses and other HCWs within tertiary care hospitals remain limited. This retrospective study aimed to compare work-related stress levels and mental health outcomes in nurses versus other HCWs seeking psychological or psychiatric support through the Occupational Health Service (OHS) of a tertiary care hospital in central Italy.
Subjects and methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study analyzing healthcare workers (HCWs) who accessed psychological or psychiatric support through an Occupational Counseling Service (OCS) over a three-year period. Medical records of 155 HCWs who accessed the OHS from January 2022 to December 2024 were reviewed. Sociodemographic, occupational, clinical, and psychometric data were collected. Subgroup analyses compared nurses (n=79) to other professionals (n=76) regarding psychological distress, psychiatric diagnoses, and treatment. Correlations between personal/family psychiatric history and work-related stress were also assessed.
Results: Nurses exhibited significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety compared to other HCWs. A positive personal and/or family history of anxiety and mood disorders was present in 26.5% of the full cohort and correlated significantly with work-related stress and burnout (p<0.001). Burnout and secondary traumatic stress were prevalent across all groups, although compassion satisfaction remained relatively preserved.
Conclusions: Nurses demonstrated greater vulnerability to affective symptoms and work-related stress compared to other HCWs, underscoring the need for tailored mental health support within occupational health frameworks. Early identification and intervention strategies are crucial to mitigate psychological distress and improve wellbeing among hospital staff.
期刊介绍：
Psychiatria Danubina is a peer-reviewed open access journal of the Psychiatric Danubian Association, aimed to publish original scientific contributions in psychiatry, psychological medicine and related science (neurosciences, biological, psychological, and social sciences as well as philosophy of science and medical ethics, history, organization and economics of mental health services).
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