Post-COVID-19 Epidemic: Allostatic Load among Medical and Nonmedical Workers in China

Peng, M.; Wang, L.; Xue, Q.; Yin, L.; Zhu, B. -H.; Wang, K.; Shangguan, F. -F.; Zhang, P. -R.; Niu, Y. -Y.; Zhang, W. -R.; Zhao, W. -F.; Wang, H.; Lv, J.; Song, H. -Q.; Min, B. -Q.; Leng, H. -X.; Jia, Y.; Chang, H.; Z. -P., Yu; Tian, Q.; Yang, Y.; Zhu, Z.; Li, W.; Gao, X. -L.; Liu, X. -L.; Yang, M.; Wang, P.; Wei, P. -H.; Wang, C. -X.; J. -N., Li; Jia, L. -B.; Huang, X. -M.; D. -N., Li; D. -J., Xu; Deng, Y. -L.; T. -M., Si; Dong, H. -Q.; Wang, Y. -P.; Cosci, F.; Wang, H. -X.

doi:10.1159/000511823

Background: As the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic continues, medical workers may have allostatic load. Objective: During the reopening of society, medical and nonmedical workers were compared in terms of allostatic load. Methods: An online study was performed; 3,590 Chinese subjects were analyzed. Socio-demographic variables, allostatic load, stress, abnormal illness behavior, global well-being, mental status, and social support were assessed. Results: There was no difference in allostatic load in medical workers compared to nonmedical workers (15.8 vs. 17.8%; p = 0.22). Multivariate conditional logistic regression revealed that anxiety (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.18-1.31; p 0.01), depression (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.17-1.29; p 0.01), somatization (OR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.14-1.25; p 0.01), hostility (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.18-1.30; p 0.01), and abnormal illness behavior (OR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.34-1.66; p 0.01) were positively associated with allostatic load, while objective support (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.78-0.89; p 0.01), subjective support (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.80-0.88; p 0.01), utilization of support (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.72-0.88; p 0.01), social support (OR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.87-0.93; p 0.01), and global well-being (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.22-0.41; p 0.01) were negatively associated. Conclusions: In the post-COVID-19 epidemic time, medical and nonmedical workers had similar allostatic load. Psychological distress and abnormal illness behavior were risk factors for it, while social support could relieve it.

Post-COVID-19 Epidemic: Allostatic Load among Medical and Nonmedical Workers in China / Peng M.; Wang L.; Xue Q.; Yin L.; Zhu B.-H.; Wang K.; Shangguan F.-F.; Zhang P.-R.; Niu Y.-Y.; Zhang W.-R.; Zhao W.-F.; Wang H.; Lv J.; Song H.-Q.; Min B.-Q.; Leng H.-X.; Jia Y.; Chang H.; Yu Z.-P.; Tian Q.; Yang Y.; Zhu Z.; Li W.; Gao X.-L.; Liu X.-L.; Yang M.; Wang P.; Wei P.-H.; Wang C.-X.; Li J.-N.; Jia L.-B.; Huang X.-M.; Li D.-N.; Xu D.-J.; Deng Y.-L.; Si T.-M.; Dong H.-Q.; Wang Y.-P.; Cosci F.; Wang H.-X.. - In: PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS. - ISSN 0033-3190. - ELETTRONICO. - (2020), pp. 1-10. [10.1159/000511823]