Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health Among Workers and Volunteers in Disaster Response

Silvana Regina Ampessan Marcon; João Ignacio Pires Lucas; Magda Macedo Madalozzo; Luana Folchini da Costa; Lilia Aparecida Kanan; Lara Barros Martins

doi:10.1590/1982-4327e3608

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Silvana Regina Ampessan Marcon University of Caxias Do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7726-9900
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Methodology
- Project Administration
- Resources
- Software
- Supervision
- Validation
- Visualization
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
João Ignacio Pires Lucas University of Caxias Do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6307-1338
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Methodology
- Project Administration
- Resources
- Software
- Supervision
- Validation
- Visualization
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Magda Macedo Madalozzo University of Caxias Do Sul
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Methodology
- Project Administration
- Resources
- Software
- Supervision
- Validation
- Visualization
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Luana Folchini da Costa University of Caxias Do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3036-5911
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Methodology
- Project Administration
- Resources
- Software
- Supervision
- Validation
- Visualization
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Lilia Aparecida Kanan Universidade do Planalto Catarinense https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6412-0544
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Methodology
- Project Administration
- Resources
- Software
- Validation
- Visualization
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Lara Barros Martins Loyola University Andalusia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3175-6324
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Methodology
- Project Administration
- Resources
- Software
- Supervision
- Validation
- Visualization
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3608

Keywords:

psychosocial factors, disasters, mental disorders, volunteers, resilience

Abstract

This study examined psychosocial factors associated with the mental health of workers and volunteers engaged in response activities related to the May 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 185 participants completed online versions of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Using an inferential design, the data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results indicated that work demands were positively associated with stress (ẞ = 0.40, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.309, 0.590]), whereas interpersonal relationships were negatively associated with depression (ẞ = -0.33, p < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.388, -0.128]). The findings highlight the importance of favorable work relationships in strengthening resilience and mitigating the adverse psychological effects of disaster contexts. These findings underscore the relevance of implementing interventions in future disaster settings aimed at strengthening psychosocial support and promoting adaptive coping strategies among workers and volunteers.