Psychological Distress and Risk of Substance-Use Problems in Nursing during the Final Phase of the Pandemic
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Abstract
Introduction: during the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing professionals faced high levels of psychological distress due to adverse working conditions. This distress may have increased the risk of illicit substance use and non-prescribed controlled medications as a dysfunctional coping strategy. However, few studies have explored the moderation of this relationship by individual factors.
Objective: to analyze the effect of psychological distress on the risk of problems related to illicit substance use among nursing professionals during the final phase of the pandemic, considering the moderating role of age.
Method: predictive study with non-probabilistic sampling in four hospitals in Tamaulipas, Mexico. A sample of 217 nursing professionals was used. The DASS-21 and DAST-10 instruments were administered along with a sociodemographic questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analyses and moderation tests were conducted.
Results: a positive correlation was found between psychological distress and the risk of illicit substance use (rs = .152, p < .05). The overall regression model was statistically significant (F = 10.164, p < .01, R² = 19.4%), and distress was a significant predictor of substance use risk (B = .046, p < .01), even after including covariates. Age moderated this relationship, with a stronger effect observed among participants under 40 years.
Discussion and conclusions: psychological distress increases the risk of illicit substance use, particularly among younger professionals, highlighting the need for age-sensitive and context-specific prevention and psychosocial support programs to reduce risks and protect the mental health of healthcare personnel.
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