Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert immense societal impacts, with recent data showing inequitable distribution of consequences among racial and ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to assess associations between COVID-related work stressors and psychological distress, with special emphasis on differences by race and ethnicity. Data were from the population-based California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2020. Associations of individual and cumulative work stressors, including job loss, reduced work hours, and working from home, with psychological distress in 12,113 workers were examined and conducted for racial and ethnic subgroups.

Findings: After adjustment for covariates, compared to workers with no work stressors, those who experienced either one or two/more work stressors had higher psychological distress. Notably, experiencing cumulative (two/more) work stressors had much stronger effects on psychological distress among participants who were Black or racial minorities. Occupational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with increased psychological distress among California workers and inequitably distributed, with racial and ethnic minorities suffering the greatest burden.

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• Journal Article: Associations of COVID-19 Related Work Stressors with Psychological Distress: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Californian Workers