Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Associated to Alcohol Consumption in Health Care Workers

Abstract. – Alcohol consumption in healthcare personnel is of great importance due to the impact it causes on the individual's well-being and quality of life, even generating behavioral problems such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. These situations can lead to the consumption of alcohol to cope with situations that may arise in the workplace. The objectives of the study include describing the characteristics of health personnel, identifying the prevalence of alcohol consumption by sex and age, as well as determining the relationship between anxiety, depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption in health personnel. Methods: Descriptive, predictive correlational study that included 420 participants. Sociodemographic information was collected, as well as data on anxiety through the GAD-7, depressive symptoms measured with the PHQ9 and alcohol consumption through the AUDIT, in compliance with the ethical aspects of the General Health Law on Health Research. Results: Seventy percent were women, significant difference was identified in the prevalence of last month (χ2= 5.393, p= 0.020) and last seven days (χ2= 4.328, p= 0.037) by sex. The age group between 18 and 33 years indicated higher consumption in all four prevalences. Positive and significant relationship was shown in anxiety and depressive symptoms ( = .644, p< 0.001), anxiety and alcohol consumption ( = 0.216, p< 0.001), depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption ( = 0.210, p<0.001). A significant negative relationship was identified for age and anxiety ( = -0.218, p< 0.001), age and depressive symptoms ( = -.261, p< .001), as well as age and alcohol consumption ( = -0.228, p< 0.001). Conclusion: The present study provides information on the impact of mental disorder on health personnel through associations between anxiety, depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption.