A new report by University of Arizona researchers found increased levels of anxiety, stress and depression among grocery store workers who have been working on the front lines since the beginning of the pandemic.
A total of 3,996 members of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99 in Arizona completed the survey over the summer, during the height of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Sixty percent of workers surveyed reported feeling above-average levels of stress. Thirty-seven percent reported feeling moderate to severe levels of anxiety and depression.
“We were very surprised by that level," said Brian Mayer, the report’s lead author. "That’s well above pre-pandemic times, of course, but we suspect it's much higher than the average population today, probably right on par with health care workers.”
Interacting with customers and lack of training on proper use of personal protective equipment were two of the largest drivers of distress among these workers, he said.
“These are folks that are telling us that they are really suffering, that their mental health is in serious danger and these effects are likely to have long-lasting on them, on their families," Mayer said.
The report recommends employers and unions support workers by connecting them to health care and mental health resources, providing training on reducing COVID-19 risks and reviewing existing safety compliance for customers.
