P6
THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO WORK CIRCUMSTANCES ENFORCED BY COVID-19 ON ANXIETY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
S. D’Angelo1, E. Zaballa Lasala1, G. NtaniG1, I. BloomI1, K. Walker-Bone2
1MRC-LEC, University of Southampton, UK
2Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Background
Under normal circumstances, job loss and unemployment are well-recognised risk factor for poor mental health, leading to adverse effects on both physical and mental well-being. Older workers face great challenges re-entering the job market once becoming unemployed, and experiencing unemployment close to retirement age can significantly impact financial security. Based on pre-pandemic evidence, the impact of working from home on mental health is unclear. Changes in employment circumstances were common during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. This systematic review aims to critically appraise the body of published literature about the effect of changes in employment since the COVID-19 pandemic and anxiety in the adult population.
Methods
We searched Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL (January 2020-July 2023) databases for papers including adults in which at least some of the study sample were workers aged 50 and older.
Results
Forty-eight studies from a variety of countries met the inclusion criteria, including 39 cross-sectional and 9 longitudinal studies. There was convincing evidence that job loss since lockdown had a negative impact on anxiety overall and amongst people aged 50 and over, while inconclusive findings were reported about the effect of remote working or furlough on anxiety.
Implications for policy or practice
The disruption of normal work functioning during the pandemic has had some impact on anxiety levels in the adult population and amongst older workers. Further research is needed to know how persistent these effects are and to identify strategies to support those most affected.
