The mental health of first- and second-generation migrant vs. native healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The VOICE survey of 7,187 employees in the German healthcare sector

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Regina Herold - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Eva Morawa - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Caterina Schug - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Franziska Geiser - , University of Bonn Medical Center (Author)
  • Petra Beschoner - , Ulm University Medical Center (Author)
  • Lucia Jerg-Bretzke - , Ulm University Medical Center (Author)
  • Christian Albus - , University Hospital Aachen (Author)
  • Kerstin Weidner - , Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine (Author)
  • Nina Hiebel - , University of Bonn Medical Center (Author)
  • Andrea Borho - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Yesim Erim - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenging working conditions of healthcare workers (HCWs) in many regions. A considerable proportion of HCWs in Germany are migrants facing additional migration-related stressors. The aim of this cross-sectional web-based survey was to examine depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms among migrant and native HCWs in Germany during the pandemic. We compared 780 migrant (first- and second-generation) HCWs from different backgrounds with 6,407 native HCWs. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine associations between occupational and COVID-19 related variables, controlling for sociodemographics. Migrant HCWs from low-/middle-income countries more frequently had clinically relevant depressive symptoms (PHQ-2 ≥ 3) than did those from high-income countries (29.9% vs. 16.7%, p = .002, ϕ = .156) (all other ϕs/Cramer's Vs ≤ .036). There were no clinically relevant differences in anxiety levels (GAD-2 ≥ 3) between native vs. migrant HCWs, native vs. the individual migrant HCW groups, or between the sexes (all ϕs/Cramer's Vs ≤ .036). After controlling for key sociodemographic characteristics, native HCWs did not differ from the individual migrant HCW groups on depression and anxiety severity (depression: all βs ≤ |.030|, anxiety: all βs ≤ |.014|). A high percentage of HCWs reported distress, with migrants from low-/middle-income countries reporting highest burden. The results indicate the need to establish prevention programmes for HCWs, with special consideration to vulnerable populations including certain migrant groups.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)872-884
Number of pages13
JournalTranscultural psychiatry
Volume61
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC11664889
Scopus 85199765198

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • COVID-19, anxiety, depression, healthcare workers, mental health, migrants