Investigation on anxiety status and influencing factors among biosafety laboratory personnel in Xinjiang

Objective To analyze the anxiety status and influencing factors among biosafety laboratory (BSL) personnel in Xinjiang.

Methods In 2021, a total of 8 500 BSL workers from disease control centers, hospital laboratories, and other related departments in 106 counties of Xinjiang, selected by a cluster sampling method, were surveyed with the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The logistic regression model was used to analyze the possible influencing factors for anxiety.

Results A total of 7 924 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective recovery rate of 93.2%. The anxiety detection rate was 34.93% (2 768/7 924), including 19.95% mild anxiety, 8.99% moderate anxiety, and 5.99% severe anxiety. The logistic regression analysis showed that the females had a higher risk of developing anxiety than the males (OR=1.418, P < 0.05). Compared with those aged < 24, those aged 30-44 and over 50 were more likely to develop anxiety (OR=1.298, 1.482, P < 0.05). Compared with the unmarried, the married had an increased risk of developing anxiety (OR=1.159, P < 0.05). Compared with those without asking for leave, those asking for leave had an increased risk of developing anxiety (OR=1.228-4.405, P < 0.05). Compared with those with working time ≤ 5 years, those with working time over 6 years had an increased risk of developing anxiety (OR=1.444, 2.002, P < 0.05). Compared with experimental technicians, logistics and engineering personnel had an increased risk of developing anxiety (OR=1.280, P < 0.05). Compared with workers with a fixed-day shift, shift workers had an increased risk of developing anxiety (OR=2.051, P < 0.05). The workers with coronary heart disease and peptic ulcer had an increased risk of developing anxiety (OR=1.848, 2.951, P < 0.05) compared with workers without this disease. Compared with those with technical secondary school and below, those with the bachelor degree or above had a reduced risk of developing anxiety (OR=0.685, P < 0.05). Compared with those who did not exercise, those who exercised weekly had a reduced risk of developing anxiety (OR=0.708-0.775, P < 0.05). Compared with those with poor sleep quality, those with good sleep quality had a reduced risk of developing anxiety (OR=0.201, P < 0.05). Compared with those with an average monthly income of less than 3 000 yuan, those with a monthly income of more than 4 000 yuan had a reduced risk of developing anxiety (OR=0.685-0.771, P < 0.05).

Conclusions The anxiety incidence rate of BSL workers in Xinjiang was high, and the influencing factors were multifaceted. The evaluation and intervention of their anxiety should be paid attention to. Relevant departments should intervene at multiple levels to improve the occurrence of employees'anxiety.