Mental health and well-being in healthcare workers in Croatia during COVID-19 pandemic

Aim: To examine changes in general and work well-being of health professionals in the Republic ofCroatia during the first and second waves of the pandemic COVID-19. Although there are numerousstudies, in our country and worldwide, that have examined the general and/or work well-being of healthcare workers during the pandemic(s), few researchers have used a longitudinal approach.Participants and methods: Ninety-two participants took part in the study. Most of the participantswere nurses and technicians (N=88; 95.65%), while physicians were represented to a much lesser extent(N=4; 4.35%). The sample was dominated by women (N=82; 89.1%), compared to men (N=10; 10.9%).Data from all participants were collected at two measurement time points corresponding to the two wavesof the pandemic in the Republic of Croatia. In addition to questions on sociodemographic characteristics(age, gender, workplace...), the following instruments were used: DASS-42 (to assess depression, anxietyand stress), Short Mental Health Inventory, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Job Satisfaction Scale.Results: A statistically significant increase in the level of depression (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.05), andstress (p < 0.05) was found during the second wave of the pandemic compared to the first wave. Nosignificant changes were found in the general mental health status of the participants (p > 0.05). Regardingwork well-being, a significantly higher level of exhaustion was found (p < 0.05), while no significantchange was recorded in the level of alienation (p > 0.05), nor in the participants' job satisfaction (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Although the second wave of the pandemic was associated with an increase in depression,anxiety, stress, and exhaustion among convenient sample of health care workers, there was no decrease inlevels of mental health, job satisfaction, and alienation (burnout dimension).