Since the implementation of the first lockdown in March 2020, as part of efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures have been put in place to limit the spread of the virus. In the workplace, this has led to significant changes in working conditions, including, for some workers, the implementation of more or less mandatory telework, situations of partial unemployment, or other changes in work organization (shifted work hours, reduced contact with colleagues or the public, etc.). The organizational changes brought about by this unprecedented context may have been a source of satisfaction or stress.

Santé publique France analyzed data from three surveys to investigate anxiety and depressive disorders, tobacco and alcohol use, and sleep disorders among employed workers during the pandemic, using data from three surveys conducted by Santé publique France in 2020 or involving its expertise.

The main findings show a negative impact of the pandemic and the associated changes in work organization on workers’ mental health.

The Coviprev Survey

This survey, conducted via an online questionnaire by Santé publique France among the general population, tracked changes throughout 2020* in a number of health indicators among the working population, including mental health (anxiety and depression), sleep quality, associated factors, and satisfaction with current and future life.

What are the results?

30.5% of employed adults reported symptoms of anxiety at the start of the lockdown in March 2020, compared to 15.9% at the end of June 2020, and about one in five employed adults exhibited depressive symptoms at the start of both lockdown periods (U-shaped trend). At the start of the lockdown in March 2020*, sleep disorders affected about two-thirds of employed adults and were more common among women than men.

The impact on mental health is linked to changes in working arrangements. Thus, in addition to gender, age, and socio-professional category, living in close quarters, work arrangements, and a financial situation perceived as precarious also played a role in the onset of anxiety and/or depression among the surveyed populations.

Among the sectors most at risk, particular attention should be paid in 2020 to the education sector, the arts and entertainment sector, and the insurance and finance sectors.

The Coset-Covid Survey

This survey, conducted by Santé publique France, assessed the prevalence of anxiety and depression following the end of lockdown in June 2020 and examined the role of changes in employment status and organizational factors among self-employed workers and those in the agricultural sector. It drew on the two cohorts—Coset-Indépendants (N=20,368) and Coset-MSA (N=27,044)—managed by Santé publique France, which enable long-term monitoring of numerous salaried workers, agricultural workers, and self-employed individuals recruited in 2017–2018.

What are the results?

Certain occupational groups showed a higher prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms following the end of lockdown in June 2020, with the frequency of these symptoms appearing to be linked to unfavorable working conditions during lockdown, such as increased interpersonal tensions with the public or colleagues, an increase in working hours or a shift of those hours to weekends or evenings, or an inability to isolate oneself to work from home.
Among non-agricultural self-employed workers and agricultural employees with office-based roles, sleep disorders worsened during this period for more than a quarter of men and more than a third of women.
Among non-agricultural self-employed workers and agricultural employees with office-based roles, one in six people increased their alcohol consumption.

A new round of the survey was launched in 2022 to assess the extent to which changes in employment status and their links to health have evolved among the working populations of the self-employed and the agricultural sector. The results will be available in 2023.

Survey on Changes in Working Conditions and Psychoactive Substance Use During the Pandemic

This analysis was conducted using data from the survey led by MILDECA, carried out among employees in collaboration with Santé publique France, ANSES, INRS, OFDT, and COCT. This study examined changes in alcohol and tobacco use during the first lockdown period and then as economic activity resumed between March and May 2020.

What are the results?

After surveying more than 4,000 employees in the public and private sectors—representative of the working population—on changes in their consumption of tobacco and alcohol, it was found that 30% of respondents reported an increase in tobacco use, compared to 14% for alcohol. Among men, increased tobacco use during lockdown was associated with an increased workload, whereas for women, it was associated with a decrease in their usual workload. For alcohol, reporting a lighter workload than usual was associated with an increased risk of increased consumption, and this was true only for women.

Better Prevention and Protection of Workers’ Mental Health: A Challenge for Occupational Health

Against this backdrop of changes in organizational structures and working conditions—which are now here to stay—reducing mental health disorders among workers is a key challenge. In partnership with key occupational health stakeholders, Santé publique France will continue its monitoring of workers’ mental health, notably by analyzing data from the COSET cohorts (salaried and non-salaried workers in the agricultural sector and self-employed workers) and the Occupational Diseases Registry (MCP). This work will make it possible to estimate the impact of working conditions on workers’ mental health, as well as to identify the profiles most at risk and pinpoint effective strategies that can be adapted to new work structures in order to combat workplace stress and feelings of isolation.