Association Between COVID-19 Anxiety, Psychological Distress, and Decision-making Styles in Nurses of a Selected Hospital in Yazd Province, Iran

Abstract

Background and aims: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing was known as a stressful occupation. This high work pressure and stress can make nurses susceptible to psychological consequences. The state of mental health of nurses can be effectively related to their job performance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety, psychological distress, and general decision-making styles in nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a selected hospital in Yazd province in 2022. An available sampling method was used in this research, and 100 nurses were included in the study. Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, Kessler’s Questionnaire (K10), and Scott, and Bruce’s decision-making styles questionnaire were employed to collect data. The obtained data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and correlation test in SPSS-24. Results: Based on the results, a positive relationship was found between COVID-19 anxiety and psychological distress (P=0.05, r=0.19). In this study, a positive correlation was observed between COVID-19 anxiety in nurses and spontaneous (P=0.008) and dependent (P<0.001) decision-making styles. Eventually, psychological distress was significantly correlated with avoidant (P=0.005) and dependent (P=0.005) decision-making styles. Conclusion: Considering the importance of mental health and nurses’ job performance, it is recommended that measures should be taken to reduce anxiety and improve their mental health. Holding mental health training workshops and increasing social and organizational support can also be effective in this regard.