Study on the relationship among social support，anxiety and depression of nurses fighting against COVID-19 based on structural equation model

Abstract:

Objective：To investigate the status of social support，anxiety，and depression among nurses fighting against COVID-19，and explore the relationship among the three aspects. Methods：A total of 268 nurses in a designated hospital for treatment of nov－el coronavirus pneumonia in Chongqing were investigated using the social support rating scale（SSRS），the generalized anxiety dis－order（GAD-7） and the patient health questionnaire（PHQ-9） to conduct online surveys. The social support，anxiety，depression status and potential influencing factors of nurses were analyzed，and the social support influences anxiety and anxiety affects depression as theoretical models. A structural equation model was constructed and the relationship among the three was analyzed. Results：The so－cial support of 268 interviewed nurses was negatively correlated with the measured values of anxiety and depression（R=-0.5872，-0.592 5，P<0.001），and anxiety and depression were positively correlated（R=0.633 7，P<0.000 1）. Nurse anxiety was significant in different working ages，job titles，and the condition whether they have children（P<0.05）；nurse depression was significant in different marital statuses，working ages，job titles，and the condition whether they have children（P<0.05）. The structural equation model fits well（GFI=0.90，AGFI=0.87，RMSEA=0.05）. Conclusion：The social support of nurses is significantly related to their anxiety and de－pression. Social support has a negative regulating effect on anxiety and anxiety has a positive regulating effect on depression. Hospital managers can improve the social support of nurses from inside and outside，thereby reducing anxiety at work and maintaining good health of nurses.