Prevalence and predictors of work-related depression, anxiety, and stress among waiters: A cross-sectional study in upscale restaurants

BACKGROUND: Poor mental health often interrupts people’s regular activities making them unable to work effectively resulting in poor performance and high turnover intention. We examined the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety and stress among waiters in upscale restaurants. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 384 waiters in upscale restaurants in the Accra Metropolis. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire which embedded DASS-21 (Cronbach Alpha = 0.815). The analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics using STATA 15. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 38.3%, while anxiety and stress were 52.3% and 34.4% respectively. Females (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.02–2.79), waiters who foresee a better remuneration (AOR = 3.09, 95%CI = 1.95–4.87), consume caffeine (AOR = 1.44, 95%CI = 0.90–2.32), and use non-prescription drugs (AOR = 2.22, 95%CI = 1.39–3.55) were more likely to have depression. Females (AOR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.17–2.96), those who foresee better remuneration (AOR = 2.85, 95%CI = 1.82–4.49), and those who use non-prescription drugs (AOR = 2.13, 95%CI = 1.38–3.28) were more likely to have anxiety. Females (AOR = 1.74, 95%CI = 1.01–2.99), waiters who are positive of career success (AOR = 1.70, 95%CI = 0.99–2.91), who foresee better remuneration (AOR = 2.99, 95%CI = 1.85–4.83), consume caffeine (AOR = 1.54, 95%CI = 0.93–2.54), and who use non-prescription drugs (AOR = 3.16, 95%CI = 1.93–5.17) were more likely to be stressed. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of poor mental health among waiters. Urgent intervention by hospitality stakeholders is needed to improve their working conditions and psychosocial health to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal of promoting mental health and wellbeing.