Occupational determinants of anxiety, depression, and stress among community pharmacists in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Mental-health burdens among pharmacists are a growing concern worldwide. Data from Jordan, however, remain sparse. The study objective was to quantify anxiety, depression, and perceived stress among Jordanian community pharmacists and to identify modifiable occupational determinants of these outcomes. In this cross-sectional study, research pharmacists distributed a validated questionnaire in person by sharing a survey link via Google Forms with licensed community pharmacists in their residential areas using convenience sampling. Validated Arabic versions of the GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PSS-10 scales were used to assess anxiety, depression, and stress, respectively. Independent variables included demographic and occupational characteristics, as well as perceived stigma and benefits adequacy. A quantile regression analysis was conducted to explore the factors associated with the GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PSS-10 scores. Three hundred ninety-one pharmacists (73.4% female; median age 29 years) participated in the study. Median (IQR) scores were GAD-7 = 9 (6–11), PHQ-9 = 10 (8–13), PSS-10 = 17 (14–19). The most common conditions were mild anxiety (46.3%), moderate depression (40.4%), and moderate stress (77.7%). Higher unadjusted symptom ratings were linked to fixed overtime, night or rotating shifts, inadequate benefits, and doctorate (PhD) training (all p < 0.05). On the other hand, all three scales showed an inverse relationship with higher patient throughput (ρ = –0.15 to −0.21, p < 0.01). Each additional year of age raised median GAD-7 by 0.11 points (β = 0.113, 95% CI 0.035–0.192) in fully adjusted models, whereas each new patient decreased median PHQ-9 by 0.011 and PSS-10 by 0.012 points (both p = 0.001). In conclusion, Jordanian community pharmacists in this study experience mild-to moderate anxiety, depression, and stress. High patient flow may shield practitioners from financial instability and enhance professional engagement, while older age, nocturnal or rotational shifts, frequent overtime, inadequate benefits, and perceived stigma worsen symptoms.