The Anxiety, Depression, and Perceived Stress Levels of Hospice Care Personnel in Georgia

Working in hospice comes with a variety of unique tasks and stressors that other jobs typically do not require. While this workplace stress can act as a catalyst, too much can be threatening to an individual’s mental state and life in general. Moreover, anxiety and depression can be detrimental to an individual’s life and career. Research has shown positive correlations between stress, anxiety, and depression. The purpose of this study is to use quantitative measures to examine the anxiety, depression, and perceived stress levels of hospice care professionals in Georgia. 12 hospice care workers were quantitatively surveyed regarding their perceived stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Particpants also reported their highest level of education and their length of career in hospice. Stress, depression, and anxiety were all reported at a moderate level. Stress exhibited strong positive correlations with anxiety (r = 0.723; p = 0.008) and depression (r = 0.842; p = 0.001) and a strong negative correlation with years of employment (r = -0.897; p = 0.000). Anxiety showed a weak negative correlation with years of employment (r = -0.624; p = 0.030) and a strong positive correlation with depression (r = 0.852; p = 0.000). Depression showed a weak negative correlation with years of employment (r = -0.690; p = 0.013)