Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41196541›Full record

ArticleDiscover mental health2025

Sex differences in psychological impact on healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Erfaneh Hajian-Tilaki, Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki, Maryam Nikpour

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Erfaneh Hajian-TilakiDept of Consulting, Teheran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Karimollah Hajian-TilakiDept of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. drhajian@yahoo.com.
Maryam NikpourAmirkola Pediatric Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

Funding

the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran. 4021394
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSex differences in the psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic are of particular interest among Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs), given the distinct cultural and societal roles of Iranian women compared to their Western counterparts. This study aimed to assess the sex disparities in psychological symptoms-including anxiety, perceived stress, and depression-among Iranian HCWs.

methodsIn this multicenter cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from four different hospitals and community health centers in Babol, northern Iran. Data were collected using grouped, validated psychological and behavioral scales.

resultsFemale HCWs reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress and anxiety than males (P = 0.001), while no significant sex differences were observed for depression, overall health-promoting lifestyle scores, self-efficacy, or self-esteem. However, males exhibited significantly higher levels of physical activity than females in the HPL subscale. After adjusting for potential confounders, the mean differences in perceived stress and anxiety scores between women and men were β = 2.32 (95% CI: 0.95-3.68, P = 0.001) and β = 1.72 (95% CI: 0.56-2.88, P = 0.004), respectively.

conclusionThis study reveals a significant sex disparity in psychological outcomes, particularly in perceived stress and anxiety, with female HCWs experiencing a greater burden than males during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supportive interventions targeting the mental health of healthcare workers are therefore necessary.

Indexed as

AnxietyCOVID-19DepressionHealthcare workersPerceived stressSex difference

Identifiers

PMID41196541
PMCPMC12592575

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.