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Associations of COVID-19 Related Work Stressors with Psychological Distress: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Californian Workers

Author

Listed:
  • Timothy A. Matthews

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Megan Guardiano

    (School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Negar Omidakhsh

    (Independent Researcher, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Lara Cushing

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Wendie Robbins

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
    School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • OiSaeng Hong

    (Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Graduate Program, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA)

  • Jian Li

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
    School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert immense societal impacts, with recent data showing inequitable distribution of consequences among racial and ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to assess associations between COVID-related work stressors and psychological distress, with special emphasis on differences by race and ethnicity. Data were from the population-based California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2020. Associations of individual and cumulative work stressors, including job loss, reduced work hours, and working from home, with psychological distress in 12,113 workers were examined via multivariable linear regression, and stratified analyses were conducted for racial and ethnic subgroups. After adjustment for covariates, compared to workers with no work stressors, those who experienced either one or two/more work stressors had higher psychological distress (βs and 95% CIs were 0.80 [0.51, 1.09] and 1.98 [1.41, 2.56], respectively). Notably, experiencing cumulative (two/more) work stressors had much stronger effects on psychological distress among participants who were Black (β and 95% CI were 3.51 [1.09, 5.93]) or racial minorities (β and 95% CI were 3.57 [1.10, 6.05]). Occupational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with increased psychological distress in Californian workers and inequitably distributed, with racial and ethnic minorities suffering the greatest burden.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy A. Matthews & Megan Guardiano & Negar Omidakhsh & Lara Cushing & Wendie Robbins & OiSaeng Hong & Jian Li, 2022. "Associations of COVID-19 Related Work Stressors with Psychological Distress: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Californian Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:144-:d:1011490
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph Crawford, 2022. "Working from Home, Telework, and Psychological Wellbeing? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Jian Li & Timothy A. Matthews & Liwei Chen & Marissa Seamans & Constanze Leineweber & Johannes Siegrist, 2021. "Effort–Reward Imbalance at Work and Drug Misuse: Evidence from a National Survey in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Quinn, S.C. & Kumar, S. & Freimuth, V.S. & Musa, D. & Casteneda-Angarita, N. & Kidwell, K., 2011. "Racial disparities in exposure, susceptibility, and access to health care in the US H1N1 influenza pandemic," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(2), pages 285-293.
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