Influence of COVID-19 virus on stress level in population groups with different status and characteristics of employment

Abstract

Societal safety measures that have been used to prevent infections spreading, when too strict or prolonged, can have negative consequences, among which disruption of economy and income or jobs loss are the most severe. Certain research also suggests that the psychological footprint of COVID‐19 probably will be more substantial than the medical footprint. Psychological responses, especially anxiety and fear, are important factors for an individual’s behaviors. COVID stress syndrome is a complex phenomenon involving various types of fears. Fear and anxiety-related behaviors relating to the coronavirus pandemic was assessed with the newly developed multifactorial questionnaire, COVID Stress Scales (CSS). The focus of this study was to examine the relationship, if there any, between employment status and COVID‐19‐related experiences of stress. High perceived stress levels were associated with employment in companies with a majority share of private capital and with being retired, while unemployed participants and employed students seemed to be at least anxious. CSS could be valuable for health practitioners, policymakers and other researchers as a tool for determining who are at higher risk of psychosocial issues, in order to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on mental health and to tailor ergonomics interventions.