Anxiety and occupational well-being in relation to crime in Guayaquil.

Abstract

Ecuador is facing its worst security crisis in history, which is negatively impacting the well-being of its inhabitants, causing anxiety-related disorders and leading to low social and work performance. This study aimed to determine the relationship between anxiety and work well-being according to the perception of crime in the city of Guayaquil. A quantitative, correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 214 workers from an industrial company. Descriptive analyses, including percentage distribution, mean, and standard deviation, were performed to determine the magnitude and direction of the relationships. 74.7% of respondents expressed a strong sense of insecurity, although the majority of anxiety levels (96.3%) were found to be mild. Similarly, the correlational study showed a statistically significant positive connection between the perception of crime and anxiety (r = 0.48). p < 0.01, confirming that as exposure to perceived insecurity increases, so does the emotional response. Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between anxiety and personal accomplishment (r = -0.35; p < 0.05), indicating that increased psychological stress diminishes the sense of achievement and job satisfaction. In conclusion, crime not only represents an external risk but also acts as a psychosocial factor that directly impacts the emotional well-being and subjective performance of workers. These findings underscore the importance of implementing psychological support programs, preventive strategies to mitigate psychosocial risk, and strengthening institutional support in contexts of persistent violence.