Predictors of COVID-19 Anxiety in Pre-Hospital Medical Emergency Professionals: Gender Differences

With the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-hospital medical emergency professionals, a group at risk for psychological illness, are even more exposed to stressful critical incidents at work. However, scientific literature focused on the psychological impact and on gender differences is still scarce. This study aimed to analyse the levels of well-being and COVID-19 anxiety of pre-hospital medical emergency professionals, as well as to characterize the COVID-19 experience and to explore the predictors of COVID-19 anxiety, while exploring gender differences. A sociodemographic/professional questionnaire, the Well-Being Questionnaire, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and COVID-19 related questions, were applied to 194 professionals (67% males). Low COVID-19 anxiety and moderate well-being were found, which shows a good adjustment to this pandemic. It was also found few gender differences related to the COVID-19 experience, as well as COVID-19 anxiety being associated with less well-being. However, for women COVID-19 anxiety was associated with higher negative well-being and COVID-19 related fear, while for men COVID-19 anxiety was associated with higher negative well-being and COVID-19 workplace security measures. This research adds to the study of COVID-19 impact on frontline professionals and to the study of gender differences on first responders at pre-hospital settings.