The Impact of Adjustment on Workplace Attitudes and Behaviors Among Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: We examined the impact of health care workers’ (HCWs) adjustment to the COVID-19 pandemic on their work-related attitudes and behaviors. Methods: HCWs (n = 1468) participated in an observational longitudinal study in which they completed surveys of anxiety and occupational health between 2020 and 2021. Results: Most HCWs reported anxiety that was consistently below the diagnostic threshold (68%) or fell below the threshold within a year (16%). Others reported consistently high (14%) or increasing (2%) anxiety, especially women, younger HCWs, those with a weakened immune system, and allied health professionals. Consistently high or increasing anxiety was associated with poorer job satisfaction, work engagement, perceived supervisor support, burnout, and turnover intentions. Conclusions: Resources to support HCWs may be focused on those who report consistently high or increasing anxiety to minimize the effects of crises and disasters on the workforce.