The mental health status of Turkish healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk and protective factors
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: During the pandemic, healthcare professionals were at high risk for both virus transmission and the development of mental disorders. This study aimed to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare professionals working in various healthcare institutions in Turkey. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Between June 1st and 15th 2020, a convenient sample of 343 Turkish healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, social workers/psychologists, health technicians, and administrative staff) via online Google Forms. Participants completed a structured questionnaire (32 questions), the Turkish version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). RESULTS: The pandemic affected the mental health of almost half of healthcare professionals (47.8 %, GHQ-28 ≥ 5,). The factors significantly affecting the GHQ-28 total score include gender, age, psychiatric medication use, finding adequate workplace measures, workplace psychosocial support, needing psychosocial support, exclusion/stigma, weekly working hours and increased workload. These factors are associated with increased somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, depression and social functioning impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the importance of these factors in understanding and managing the mental health issues of healthcare professionals, particularly those on the front lines staff during the times of global health crises.
Source: Psychiatria Danubina
Authors: Elvan Ulucan Özkan, Seval Bekiroğlu
Institutions: Çankırı Karatekin University, Başkent University
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410414305