Underlying mechanisms of insomnia on PTSS among healthcare workers: A chain mediation model

Healthcare workers (HCWs) were exposed to high levels of occupational stress and psychological problems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the chain mediating effects of anxiety and depression in the association between insomnia and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among HCWs. The convenience sampling method was applied to recruit participants. 253 HCWs completed the assessment, which was designed to measure demographic characteristics, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and PTSS. Insomnia, depression, anxiety, and PTSS were significantly correlated with each other. Anxiety and depression played chain mediating roles in the association between insomnia and PTSS. Insomnia was found to be associated with anxiety, which might increase the level of depression and then raise the incidence rate of PTSS among HCWs. To mitigate and potentially prevent PTSS among HCWs in Chinese hospitals, interventions targeting insomnia, anxiety, and depression were recommended.