Psychopathological symptoms and work status of Southeastern Brazilian nursing in the context of COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the relationship between psychopathological symptoms and the work situation of nursing professionals in the Southeast Region, Brazil, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: an observational and cross-sectional study with virtual and snowball data collection from April to July 2020. A questionnaire containing socio-demographic and labor data and the psychopathological symptoms assessment scale (psychoticism, obsessiveness/compulsivity, somatization, and anxiety) were applied. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: among the 532 participants, there was a relationship between weekly workload and psychoticism. All domains of the scale were associated with embarrassment and/or violence in the course of work and receiving psychological/emotional support from the institution where the individual works/studies. CONCLUSION: the age group, heavy workload, experienced violence and lack of psychological support during the pandemic were associated with increased psychopathological symptoms among nursing professionals. It is suggested the creation of institutional guidelines aimed at the reception and follow-up of these demands.