Anxiety Among Workers in Institutions for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

The present study examined the factors that predict anxiety in workers of institutions for older adults in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine hundred nursing home and assisted living workers were assessed via self-administered questionnaires. Data were collected online from October 2020 to February 2021, during Puerto Rico's third COVID-19 wave peak. Experiential avoidance, emotional exhaustion, negative mood, perceived stress, and, to a lesser extent, depersonalization, predicted anxious feelings and thoughts during the pandemic. This study highlights the psychological distress faced by these workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes considering maladaptive psychological factors when assessing and addressing anxiety in clinical practice during crises. These results underscore the urgent need for mental health support and interventions for these professionals to mitigate the pandemic's long-term impact on their well-being.