The Association Between Information Technology-Profession-Specific Stressors and Mental Health Conditions Plus the Role of Mental Health Literacy in Help-Seeking

BackgroundThe Information Technology (IT) sector is growing and encompasses all professions, from leisure and recreation to hospitals and emergency response groups. IT professionals are experiencing increased threats (e.g., ransomware attacks), but little is known about the relationship between these IT-profession-specific stressors and the professionals mental health. This study aimed to 1) estimate the associations between IT-profession-specific stressors and anxiety, depression, and stress, and 2) examine the role of mental health literacy (MHL) as a mediator of the relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and help-seeking. MethodsBetween February and May 2023, 388 IT professionals working in the US were surveyed online. Participants reported demographic characteristics, and their MHL, mental health symptoms, and help-seeking intentions were assessed with the following scales: MHL-in the workplace (MHL-W), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 (CESD-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and the mental help seeking intention scale (MHSIS). ResultsRespondents who had experienced ransomware attacks in the past year reported significantly higher symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Adapting to rapid changes in technology and business requirements was associated with higher levels of stress. MHL was found to partially mediate the relationship between depression and help-seeking, but not between anxiety or stress and help-seeking. ConclusionThese findings provide insight into the workplace stressors that pose a greater psychological health risk for IT professionals. These results emphasize the important role of MHL in helping facilitate the connection between depressive symptoms and help-seeking.