Predicting the Severity of COVID-۱۹ Anxiety Based on Sleep Quality and Mental Health in Health Care Workers

Background: One of the social groups, which its psychological assessment is important during the COVID-۱۹ outbreak, is health care workers.Objective: This study aimed to predict the severity of COVID-۱۹ anxiety in health care workers based on sleep quality and mental health.Methods: This correlational study was conducted on ۱۸۰ health care workers (۱۲۹ females and ۵۱ males). The researcher-made demographic information questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-۱۲), and COVID-۱۹ Anxiety Scale (CDAS) were completed by the participants.Results: The results showed that ۲۳.۳% of health care workers reported COVID-۱۹ anxiety. The severity of COVID-۱۹ anxiety varied among the different work shifts as well as the educational degree of health care workers. In other words, persons on morning shifts as well as persons with master's degrees showed low levels of COVID-۱۹ anxiety. Besides, there was a significant relationship between COVID-۱۹ anxiety and mental health. Also, there was a significant relationship between all dimensions of sleep quality except sleep efficiency and COVID-۱۹ anxiety (P<۰.۰۵). Finally, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that low sleep quality of persons affected the chance of emerging intense anxiety due to COVID-۱۹ by ۳.۱۱ times (OR=۳.۱۱).Conclusions: These results showed that the most important contributing factor to COVID-۱۹ anxiety in health care workers is the sleep quality of persons. Therefore, providing screening and interventional programs is needed to improve the sleep quality of health care workers during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.