Coping Mechanisms and Their Associations with Depression and Anxiety Among Healthcare Workers in the Aftermath of COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective This study investigated the associations between anxiety, depression, and coping in healthcare workers (HCWs) during COVID-19. Methods A survey used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 to assess anxiety, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 to assess depression, and the Brief COPE scale to evaluate coping mechanisms. Results Of the 1,172 participants who provided data, 24.7% screened positive for anxiety and 15.7% for depression. Logistic regression indicated that avoidance coping (OR = 3.92 (95% CI: 2.91-5.29), p <.001) and substance use coping (OR = 1.39 (95% CI: 1.00-1.90), p =.049) were associated with higher odds of depression. Avoidance coping (OR = 2.81 (95% CI: 2.15-3.67), p <.001), and social support coping (OR = 1.59 (95% CI: 1.22-2.08), p =.001) were associated with higher odds of anxiety. Conclusions Interventions are needed to improve HCWs' coping and wellbeing.