Depression and anxiety symptoms and perceived stress in health professionals in the context of COVID‐19: Do adverse childhood experiences have a modulating effect?

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have a great impact on mental health outcomes of adults. However, little is known whether ACE may act as modulators of the mental health of health professionals caring for patients with COVID‐19. METHODS: Data were collected through an online cross‐sectional survey administered to health professionals in Lima (Peru) between May and July 2020. The survey included standardized self‐assessment instruments for anxiety, depression, acute stress (AS) and history of ACE. RESULTS: A total of 542 health professionals completed the survey. Caring for patients with COVID‐19 was significantly associated with depression and anxiety and when caring for patients with COVID‐19 was combined with a history of early sexual abuse, its effect on the risk of anxiety increased (OR = 7.71, p = .010). Mental health problems were associated with female gender in almost all the analyses and with the majority of ACEs. CONCLUSIONS: Health workers in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic presented a high risk of mental health disorders. Antecedents of sexual abuse acted as a potentiating factor of anxiety in professionals providing COVID‐19 care. These findings suggest that the burden of ACE modulates mental health problems in health professionals during the pandemic.