Network analysis of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in Brazilian nursing workers.

OBJECTIVES

to explore the network structure of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among Brazilian nursing workers.

METHODS

cross-sectional study using nonprobability sampling. Participants were 4,053 nursing workers. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Data were analyzed using psychological network analysis, applying a partial correlation model with LASSO regularization method. Node centrality was assessed using strength, closeness, and betweenness indices.

RESULTS

the symptoms with the highest strength centrality were "I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy," "I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything," and "I felt I was close to panic." The symptom "I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy" showed the highest closeness and betweenness indices.

CONCLUSIONS

the identified central symptoms may play a structuring role in the activation of other symptoms and may help guide strategies to prevent and manage psychological distress among nursing workers.