<b><i>Background:</i></b> As the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic continues, medical workers may have allostatic load. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> During the reopening of society, medical and nonmedical workers were compared in terms of allostatic load. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> An online study was performed; 3,590 Chinese subjects were analyzed. Socio-demographic variables, allostatic load, stress, abnormal illness behavior, global well-being, mental status, and social support were assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was no difference in allostatic load in medical workers compared to nonmedical workers (15.8 vs. 17.8%; <i>p</i> = 0.22). Multivariate conditional logistic regression revealed that anxiety (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.18–1.31; <i>p</i> < 0.01), depression (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.17–1.29; <i>p</i> < 0.01), somatization (OR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.14–1.25; <i>p</i> < 0.01), hostility (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.18–1.30; <i>p</i> < 0.01), and abnormal illness behavior (OR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.34–1.66; <i>p</i> < 0.01) were positively associated with allostatic load, while objective support (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.78–0.89; <i>p</i> < 0.01), subjective support (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.80–0.88; <i>p</i> < 0.01), utilization of support (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.72–0.88; <i>p</i> < 0.01), social support (OR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.87–0.93; <i>p</i> < 0.01), and global well-being (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.22–0.41; <i>p</i> < 0.01) were negatively associated. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In the post-COVID-19 epidemic time, medical and nonmedical workers had similar allostatic load. Psychological distress and abnormal illness behavior were risk factors for it, while social support could relieve it.
Post-COVID-19 Epidemic: Allostatic Load among Medical and Nonmedical Workers in China
