Childcare stress during COVID-19 linked to burnout in HCWs

Editor's Note

This study led by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, UCHealth, Aurora, finds an association between healthcare workers (HCWs) reporting high childcare stress and burnout during COVID-19.

The researchers surveyed 58,408 HCWs in 208 organizations from October 2021 to May 2022 on their concerns about childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They found that childcare stress was:

• present in 21% of respondents
• more frequent in racial and ethnic minority HCWs and those not identifying race or ethnicity vs White HCWs (25.2% vs 18.8%)
• more frequent in women than men (21.1% vs 17.9%).

Results also showed that those with childcare stress had:

• 115% greater odds of anxiety or depression
• 80% greater odds of burnout
• 91% greater odds of intent to reduce hours
• 28% greater odds of intent to leave.

Addressing childcare stress may improve HCW’s quality of life, retention, and work participation, the researchers concluded.