The effect of stress and anxiety status of health staff working in COVID-19 service and intensive care on eating attitude

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stress and anxiety levels experienced by healthcare personnel working in clinics that care for COVID-19 on eating behavior. A total of 357 study models, 83 men (23.2%) and 274 women (76.8%) aged between 20-65 were included in the study. Participants' general characteristics, eating habits, anthropometric measurements, stress levels (Maslach Burnout Inventory-MBI), anxiety levels (Coronavirus Anxiety Inventory-CAS, Beck Anxiety Inventory-BAI) and eating attitudes (Three-Factor Eating Scale-TFEQ-18) were evaluated. 17.9% of the individuals were obese. In TFEQ-18 sub-dimensions and total score, the score of obese individuals was higher than thin, normal and slightly obese individuals (p<0.05). According to the BAI scores of the individuals, 50.7% had no anxiety, 27.7% had mild anxiety, 14% had moderate and 7.6% had severe anxiety (p<0.05). In the MBI emotional exhaustion and personal achievement sub-dimension, men's scores (9.75 ±6.12, 10.44±6.98, respectively) were lower than women's (13.16±7.32, 12.49± 7.49, respectively) (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the CAS and the TFEQ-18 sub-dimensions (p<0.05). There was a negative correlation between the Maslach burnout scale personal achievement sub-dimension and the BAI, and a positive correlation between emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p<0.05). Energy intake and carbohydrate percentage of individuals were lower than recommended and fat percentage was higher than recommended. In addition, individuals' average intake of vitamin E, B1, B6, B9 is lower than recommended. Calcium, iron, potassium in women, men; calcium, potassium and zinc intakes were found to be low. As a result; It has been revealed that the stress and anxiety levels of health personnel negatively affect their eating behavior. In this direction, the effect of the ongoing psychological state on the eating behavior during and after the COVID-19 pandemic should be monitored due to new risks.