International survey of audiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on mental well-being of audiologists

Rebecca J Bennett; Vinay Manchaiah; Robert H Eikelboom; Johanna C Badcock; De Wet Swanapoel

doi:10.1080/14992027.2021.1944675

International survey of audiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on mental well-being of audiologists

Int J Audiol. 2022 Apr;61(4):273-282. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1944675. Epub 2021 Jul 22.

Authors

Rebecca J Bennett^{1

2}, Vinay Manchaiah^{3

4}, Robert H Eikelboom^{1

2

5}, Johanna C Badcock⁶, De Wet Swanapoel^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Australia.
² Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.
³ Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, United States.
⁴ Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
⁵ Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
⁶ School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

PMID: 34289793
DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1944675

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the mental well-being of audiologists in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 23 June and 13 August 2020. A self-report survey included screening measures for psychological distress (PHQ-4: anxiety and depression) and loneliness (UCLA-3).

Study sample: 239 audiologists from around the world.

Results: The prevalence of psychological distress was 12.1% (subscales for anxiety 16.3% and depression 10.4%), and loneliness 32.2%. Depression and loneliness were higher in those participants self-reporting perceived job insecurity, with psychological distress (anxiety and depression) higher in those from South Africa. Accessibility to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) appears to be a protective factor.

Conclusions: Well-being interventions, such as EAPS, are needed to support audiologists during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Psychological; anxiety; audiologist; audiology; depression; loneliness.

MeSH terms

Anxiety / diagnosis
Anxiety / epidemiology
Anxiety / psychology
Audiologists
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / diagnosis
Depression / epidemiology
Depression / psychology
Humans
Pandemics
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology