Mental health and work ability among employed adults with post-COVID conditions in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study

Post COVID-19 Conditions have been associated with persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, less is known about their psychological and occupational implications in highly vaccinated populations infected predominantly during the Omicron-dominant period. This study examined mental health outcomes and work ability among employed adults with and without Post COVID-19 Conditions in Taiwan. In this cross-sectional survey, employed adults with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection completed validated questionnaires assessing quality of life, fear of COVID-19, insomnia severity, and work ability. Participants were recruited through clinical and occupational-health channels using non-probability sampling. Participants were categorized based on the presence or absence of persistent symptoms consistent with Post COVID-19 Conditions. Group comparisons were performed to evaluate differences in psychological measures and Work Ability Index (WAI) scores. Participants reporting Post COVID-19 Conditions demonstrated significantly lower quality of life (mean difference − 13.9 points), higher Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores, greater insomnia severity, and reduced Work Ability Index scores (mean difference − 3.3 points) compared with those who had fully recovered. These associations were observed within a highly vaccinated population infected primarily during the Omicron-dominant phase. Self-reported Post COVID-19 Conditions were associated with greater psychological burden and lower perceived work ability among employed adults, even under contemporary epidemiological conditions characterized by high vaccination coverage. Although causal relationships cannot be inferred and generalizability is limited by the non-probability recruitment strategy, the findings highlight the relevance of mental health assessment in post-COVID follow-up care and the need for longitudinal studies to clarify recovery trajectories and functional outcomes.