Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: The Psychological Well-Being in a Cohort of Workers of a Multinational Company

  • Lovreglio, Piero (Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro) ;
  • Leso, Veruscka (Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II) ;
  • Riccardi, Elisabetta (Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II) ;
  • Stufano, Angela (Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro) ;
  • Pacella, Daniela (Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II) ;
  • Cagnazzo, Francesco (Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro) ;
  • Ercolano, Maria Luigia (Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II) ;
  • Iavicoli, Ivo (Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II)
  • Received : 2021.08.29
  • Accepted : 2021.10.14
  • Published : 2022.03.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychological well-being (PWB) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in workers of a multinational company. Methods: Employees (aged ≥18 years) were recruited from Latin American, North American, New Zealand, and European sites of a multinational company operative during all the pandemic period. The self-reported Psychological General Well-Being Index was used to assess the global PWB and the effects on six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing role of age, gender, geographical location, COVID-19 epidemiology, and restrictive measures adopted to control the pandemic was explored. Results: A total of 1335 workers completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in a positive range, with significantly better outcomes detected in the Mexican and Colombian Latin American sites compared with the other worldwide countries (p < 0.001). Among the European locations, a significantly higher PWB score was determined in Spain compared with the German and French sites (p < 0.05). Comparable geographical trends were demonstrated for all the PWB subdomains. Male workers had a significantly better PWB compared with females (p < 0.05), whereas a negative correlation emerged with aging (p = 0.01). COVID-19 epidemiology and pandemic control measures had no clear effects on PWB. Conclusion: Monitoring PWB and the impact of individual and pandemic-related variables may be helpful to clarify the mental health effects of pandemic, define targeted psychological-supporting measures, also in the workplace, to face such a complex situation in a more constructive way.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was partially funded by Essity.

References

  1. Anglim J, Horwood S. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and big five personality on subjective and psychological well-being. Soc Psychol Personal Sci 2021;12:1527-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550620983047.
  2. Pfefferbaum B, North CS. Mental health and the covid-19 pandemic. N Engl J Med 2020;383(6):510-2. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2008017.
  3. Vindegaard N, Benros ME. COVID-19 pandemic and mental health consequences: systematic review of the current evidence. Brain Behav Immun 2020;89:531-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.048.
  4. Xiong J, Lipsitz O, Nasri F, Lui LMW, Gill H, Phan L, Chen-Li D, Iacobucci M, Ho R, Majeed A, McIntyre RS. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: a systematic review. J Affect Disord 2020;277:55-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001.
  5. Steptoe A, Deaton A, Stone AA. Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing. Lancet 2015;385(9968):640-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61489-0.
  6. Evanoff BA, Strickland JR, Dale AM, Hayibor L, Page E, Duncan JG, Kannampallil T, Gray DL. Work-related and personal factors associated with mental well-being during the COVID-19 response: survey of health care and other workers. J Med Internet Res 2020;22(8):e21366. https://doi.org/10.2196/21366.
  7. Dupuy HJ. The psychological general well-being (PGWBI) index. In: Wenger NK, Mattson ME, Furburg CD, Elinson J, editors. Assessment of quality of life in clinical trials of cardiovascular therapies. New York: Le Jacq Publishing; 1984. p. 170-83.
  8. Badia X, Gutierrez F, Wiklund I, Alonso J. Validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the psychological general well-being index. Qual Life Res 1996;5(1):101-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435974.
  9. Grossi E, Compare A. Psychological general well-being index (PGWB). In: Michalos AC, editor. Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research. Dordrecht: Springer; 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_2309.
  10. Ruffolo M, Price D, Schoultz M, Leung J, Bonsaksen T, Thygesen H, Geirdal AO. Employment uncertainty and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic initial social distancing implementation: a cross-national study. Glob Soc Welf 2021:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-020-00201-4.
  11. Petzold MB, Bendau A, Plag J, Pyrkosch L, Mascarell Maricic L, Betzler F, Rogoll J, Grosse J, Strohle A. Risk, resilience, psychological distress, and anxiety at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Brain Behav 2020;10(9):e01745. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1745.
  12. Ceri V, Cicek I. Psychological well-being, depression and stress during COVID19 pandemic in Turkey: a comparative study of healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals. Psychol Health Med 2021;26(1):85-97. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2020.1859566.
  13. Matud MP, Lopez-Curbelo M, Fortes D. Gender and psychological well-being. Int J Environ Res Publ Health 2019;16(19):3531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193531.
  14. Ruiz E. Hispanic culture and relational cultural theory. J Creativ Ment Health 2005;1(1):33-55. https://doi.org/10.1300/J456v01n01_05.
  15. Bartram D. Scalar equivalence of OPQ32: big five profiles of 31 countries. J Cross-Cult Psychol 2013;44(1):61-83. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022111430258.
  16. Rentfrow PJ, Jokela M, Lamb ME. Regional personality differences in great britain. PloS One 2015;10(3):e0122245. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122245.
  17. Liu N, Zhang F, Wei C, Jia Y, Shang Z, Sun L, Wu L, Sun Z, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Liu W. Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: gender differences matter. Psychiatr Res 2020;287:112921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112921.
  18. Mazza C, Ricci E, Biondi S, Colasanti M, Ferracuti S, Napoli C, Roma P. A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Italian people during the COVID-19 pandemic: immediate psychological responses and associated factors. Int J Environ Res Publ Health 2020;17(9):3165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093165.
  19. Kowal M, Coll-Martin T, Ikizer G, Rasmussen J, Eichel K, Studzinska A, Koszalkowska K, Karwowski M, Najmussaqib A, Pankowski D, Lieberoth A, Ahmed O. Who is the most stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic? Data from 26 countries and areas. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2020;12(4):946-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12234.
  20. Paleari FG, Pivetti M, Galati D, Fincham FD. Hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: the role of stigma and appraisals. Br J Health Psychol 2021 May;26(2):657-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12508.
  21. Daly M, Robinson E. Psychological distress and adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis in the United States. J Psychiatr Res 2021 Apr;136:603-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.10.035.