AUTHOR=Kodama Toyohiko , Ishimaru Tomohiro , Tateishi Seiichiro , Hino Ayako , Tsuji Mayumi , Ogami Akira , Nagata Tomohisa , Matsuda Shinya , Fujino Yoshihisa 

TITLE=Effect of working place infection control practices on workers' psychological distress: A large-scale cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.933556

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.933556

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically transformed the work environment and work practices worldwide. Long-term infection control practices may increase the psychological distress on workers and, conversely, inadequate infection control practices at the working place may increase the fear of infection. This study aimed to determine the relationship between infection control practices at the working place and employee mental state during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
Methods: This study was conducted in December 2020 and February 2021. The participants had undergone a preliminary survey, which revealed that they were in good mental state. Their psychological distress was investigated via a second survey, and the factors associated with distress were studied using a logistic model.
Results: The results of the second survey indicated that 15.1% of participants demonstrated psychological distress. This was associated with leave-of-absence instructions, instructions for shortening business hours, and requests to avoid the working place in case of any symptoms.
Conclusion: The study found that while some infection control practices reduce workers’ distress, others worsen it. Employers need to consider infection control practices as well as the worsening mental state of employees, following a decrease in income caused by such measures. Follow-up studies may be necessary to clarify the long-term effects on workers' mental state.