Abstract
Objectives. It is a well known fact that higher risk for developing depression is associated with lower
levels of self-esteem but causality of it still remains an unanswered and highly debated question. Aim of the
study is to assess 9 months incidence of depression and its association with self-esteem levels among health
care workers (HCW) during COVID-19 pandemics in Latvia.
Materials and Methods. A longitudinal quantitative study in the population of HCW in Latvia was
done during April-June 2020 with repeated online surveys. Data was collected every 3 months in a 9 month
period. Participants were selected by a non-probability sampling approach. Participants without symptoms
of depression during the first survey were included in later surveys. Depression was assessed using Patient
Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), cut-off score-10. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg SelfEsteem scale (RSES) where a score of 10-25 indicates low, 26-29 medium and 30–40 high level of selfesteem. Data analysis was performed using SPSSv25 and analysed with the Chi-Square Test.
Results. 232 HCW were included in data analysis, of whom 40.9% (N = 95) developed symptoms of
depression during the first 9 months of pandemics. In the beginning 7.3% had a low, 13.8% medium and
78.9% high self-esteem levels, after 9 months – 13.4, 20.3 and 66.4%. Rosenberg‘s self-esteem test median
for those with depression decreased from 32 (IQR 27.0–36.0) to 29 (IQR 25.0–33.0), for those without
depression – 34 (IQR 32.0-37.0) and during 9 months median didn’t change (IQR 30.0-38.0). Lower selfesteem was associated with higher 9 months incidence of symptoms of depression (p < 0.001).
Conclusions. 40.9% of HCW developed symptoms of depression during the first 9 months of COVID-19
pandemics in Latvia. Those HCW with lower self-esteem scores after 9 months were more likely to develop
depression. The study reveals that self-esteem is a variable that is associated with incidence of symptoms
of depressi on.
levels of self-esteem but causality of it still remains an unanswered and highly debated question. Aim of the
study is to assess 9 months incidence of depression and its association with self-esteem levels among health
care workers (HCW) during COVID-19 pandemics in Latvia.
Materials and Methods. A longitudinal quantitative study in the population of HCW in Latvia was
done during April-June 2020 with repeated online surveys. Data was collected every 3 months in a 9 month
period. Participants were selected by a non-probability sampling approach. Participants without symptoms
of depression during the first survey were included in later surveys. Depression was assessed using Patient
Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), cut-off score-10. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg SelfEsteem scale (RSES) where a score of 10-25 indicates low, 26-29 medium and 30–40 high level of selfesteem. Data analysis was performed using SPSSv25 and analysed with the Chi-Square Test.
Results. 232 HCW were included in data analysis, of whom 40.9% (N = 95) developed symptoms of
depression during the first 9 months of pandemics. In the beginning 7.3% had a low, 13.8% medium and
78.9% high self-esteem levels, after 9 months – 13.4, 20.3 and 66.4%. Rosenberg‘s self-esteem test median
for those with depression decreased from 32 (IQR 27.0–36.0) to 29 (IQR 25.0–33.0), for those without
depression – 34 (IQR 32.0-37.0) and during 9 months median didn’t change (IQR 30.0-38.0). Lower selfesteem was associated with higher 9 months incidence of symptoms of depression (p < 0.001).
Conclusions. 40.9% of HCW developed symptoms of depression during the first 9 months of COVID-19
pandemics in Latvia. Those HCW with lower self-esteem scores after 9 months were more likely to develop
depression. The study reveals that self-esteem is a variable that is associated with incidence of symptoms
of depressi on.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 268 |
| Journal | Medicina (Kaunas) |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | Suppl.2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Event | RSU Research Week 2023: Research Week 2023 Rīga Stradiņš University - Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia Duration: 27 Mar 2023 → 31 Mar 2023 https://rw2023.rsu.lv/general-information https://rw2023.rsu.lv |
Keywords*
- self-esteem
- depression
- healthcare
- Covid-19
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
- 3.3 Health sciences
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)