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Gabay G. The protective role of sense of coherence in resident physicians facing secondary trauma due to patient death in intensive care-A qualitative inquiry. Death Stud 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38696822 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2348058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The salutogenic paradigm is increasingly used in research and practice but remains to be investigated in secondary trauma of health professionals. This qualitative study explored the main anchor of salutogenics, the sense-of-coherence, as a coping mechanism among resident physicians facing secondary trauma due to continuous exposure to patient suffering and deaths. Participants were sixteen resident physicians from intensive care units at emergency departments of two Israeli public tertiary hospitals. Data analysis employed reflexive thematic analysis. Findings suggest that while all residents described having comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness differed among residents. Some residents thrived, coped well with secondary trauma, centered on patient emotional needs, and drew meaningfulness from the challenges. Other residents suffered while providing care, reported poor well-being, were too overwhelmed to center patients, and doubted their career choices. Salutogenic-based interventions to cultivate the resilience of resident physicians experiencing secondary trauma are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillie Gabay
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Achva Academic College, Shikmim, Israel
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Culmann AC, Baranowski AM, Matthias JK, Tüttenberg SC, Belschner W, Erim Y, Morawa E, Beschoner P, Jerg-Bretzke L, Albus C, Steudte-Schmiedgen S, Reuter M, Geiser F. Spirituality and anxiety in pastoral care workers and physicians in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1354044. [PMID: 38528972 PMCID: PMC10961463 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1354044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic had serious impact on the well-being of health care workers and highlighted the need for resources to help hospital staff to cope with psychologically negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potentially protective effect of spirituality, as measured by the construct of transpersonal trust, against anxiety in physicians and in hospital pastoral care workers. In addition, transpersonal trust was compared to the effects of other potential resources, namely sense of coherence, optimism, and resilience. We also explored the relationship between transpersonal trust and anxiety and how it was moderated by sense of coherence and expected a significant effect. Method The sample included N = 405 participants (n = 151 pastoral care workers and n = 254 physicians) who completed an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between 20th April and 05th July, 2020, that comprised established questionnaires assessing anxiety, transpersonal trust, sense of coherence, and resilience. Results There was no statistically significant negative relationship between transpersonal trust and anxiety in either profession or broken down by occupational group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that sense of coherence inversely predicted generalized anxiety, while transpersonal trust, resilience, and optimism did not. As hypothesized, the association between transpersonal trust and anxiety was moderated by sense of coherence. However, we could not confirm our hypothesis of a protective effect of transpersonal trust against anxiety. Conclusion Our results point to the significant role of sense of coherence as a protective factor against anxiety and highlight the complexity of the relationship among spirituality, transpersonal trust, and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C. Culmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas M. Baranowski
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia-K. Matthias
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Simone C. Tüttenberg
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
| | - Wilfried Belschner
- Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Yesim Erim
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva Morawa
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Petra Beschoner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hospital Christophsbad, Göppingen, Germany
| | - Lucia Jerg-Bretzke
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Albus
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
| | - Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Reuter
- Department of Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Geiser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Bonn, Germany
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Zhang J, Xiang X, Yang X, Mei Q, Cheng L. The effect of self-disclosure on loneliness among patients with coronary heart disease: The chain mediating effect of social support and sense of coherence. Heart Lung 2024; 64:74-79. [PMID: 38061319 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is prevalent in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). It has a serious impact on the physical and mental health and the quality of life of patients with CHD. However, what factors contribute to loneliness and the mechanism of action still need to be explored. OBJECTIVES To explore the chain mediating effect among self-disclosure, social support, sense of coherence and loneliness in patients with CHD through a chain mediating model. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 248 patients with CHD from three tertiary hospitals in Shiyan, Hubei Province, China. Self-reported scales were used to assess feelings of loneliness, self-disclosure, social support and sense of coherence. The Amos 26.0 software was used to construct the chain mediating effect. RESULTS Self-disclosure cannot directly affect patients' loneliness (β = -0.60, P>0.05). Social support and sense of coherence play a significant complete mediating role between self-disclosure and loneliness, with an overall mediating effect value of -0.479. CONCLUSION Self-disclosure in CHD patients indirectly affect loneliness through social support and sense of coherence (β = -0.479, P = 0.001). Improving patient self-disclosure and modulation of social support and sense of coherence help reduce in loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zhang
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 30, Renmin South Road, Maojian District, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, PR China
| | - Xiancheng Xiang
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 30, Renmin South Road, Maojian District, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Yang
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 30, Renmin South Road, Maojian District, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, PR China
| | - Qian Mei
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 30, Renmin South Road, Maojian District, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, PR China
| | - Li Cheng
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 30, Renmin South Road, Maojian District, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, PR China.
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Baranowski AM, Blank R, Maus K, Tüttenberg SC, Matthias JK, Culmann AC, Radbruch L, Richter C, Geiser F. 'We are all in the same boat': a qualitative cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19 pandemic imagery in scientific literature and its use for people working in the German healthcare sector. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1296613. [PMID: 38374972 PMCID: PMC10875073 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1296613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to professional responders in healthcare settings. This is reflected in the language used to describe the pandemic in the professional literature of the respective professions. The aim of this multidisciplinary study was to analyze the linguistic imagery in the relevant professional literature and to determine the identification of different professional groups with it and its emotional effects. Method A list of 14 typical, widespread and differing imageries for COVID-19 in form of single sentences (e.g., "Until the pandemic is over, we can only run on sight.") were presented to 1,795 healthcare professionals in an online survey. The imageries had been extracted from a qualitative search in more than 3,500 international professional journals in medicine, psychology and theology. Ratings of agreement with these imageries and feelings about them were subjected to factor analysis. Results Based on the list of imageries presented, it was possible to identify three factors for high/low agreement by experiences, and two factors for high/low induced feelings. Broad agreement emerged for imageries on "fight against the crisis" and "lessons learned from the crisis", while imageries on "acceptance of uncontrollability" tended to be rejected. Imageries of "challenges" tended to lead to a sense of empowerment among subjects, while imageries of "humility" tended to lead to a sense of helplessness. Conclusion Based on the qualitative and subsequential quantitative analysis, several factors for imageries for the COVID-19 pandemic were identified that have been used in the literature. Agreement with imageries is mixed, as is the assessment of how helpful they are.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas M. Baranowski
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rebecca Blank
- Systematic Theology and Hermeneutics, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katja Maus
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Simone C. Tüttenberg
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia-K. Matthias
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna C. Culmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Radbruch
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cornelia Richter
- Systematic Theology and Hermeneutics, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Geiser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Thielmann B, Meyer F, Böckelmann I. [Against the mental stress-Resilient work in surgery]. Chirurgie (Heidelb) 2024; 95:135-147. [PMID: 37987763 PMCID: PMC10834595 DOI: 10.1007/s00104-023-01977-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgery represents a challenging medical discipline. AIM This article focuses on psychological stress in surgery and explains resilience as a protective factor against the consequences of psychological stress, based on selected literature references and own relevant clinical experiences. In this context, the sense of coherence, social support and self-efficacy expectation are discussed in more detail as resilience factors. METHOD Narrative review. RESULTS (CORNER POINTS) Surgery is classified as a challenging medical subspecialty with a high reputation but associated with diverse and varied physical and psychological stress factors. Stress factors differ individually in terms of requirements (can be overdemanding or underdemanding but also stimulating, relevant to learning and meaningful, thus positively or negatively stressful) and resources (potentially beneficial working conditions, experience, or behavior, e.g., social support, scope for action). Fluctuations within surgical specialties and a high dropout rate during residency training are well known and the causes include high psychological stress. In the case of persistent and at the same time insufficient compensation of work stress caused by a lack of or insufficient resources, these can be associated with mental illnesses. Nonetheless, many physicians spend their entire lives working in hospital or private surgical settings and remain healthy, a strong sense of resilience to mental illness may be fundamental to this. Resilience can be present as a personal characteristic or it can be learnt through a process or adapted through positive or negative influences, thus strengthening the personal characteristics. Overall, data on surgeon resilience or interventional studies in resilience research in the surgical setting are limited and provide another research gap. Resilience training (directed at a sense of coherence, social support, strengthening knowledge of coping skills, positive emotions, optimism, hope, self-efficacy expectations, control beliefs or robustness), also clearly indicated in the "robust" medical specialty of surgery, is always individual and should not be generalized. If the surgeon cannot retrieve sufficient resources due to the stressful situation, stress management with its methods is helpful to reduce the psychological stress and to be able to maintain the performance and health of this person. CONCLUSION The consolidation of resilience as a notable aspect of employee management. In collegial interactions, resilience must be based on workplace-based approaches to strengthen coping mechanisms in the face of work stress. Workplace-related stress should also be perceived, addressed and counteracted within the organization, certainly also as an elementary management task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Thielmann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Deutschland
| | - Frank Meyer
- Universitätsklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Gefäß- und Transplantationschirurgie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg mit Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg A. ö. R., Magdeburg, Deutschland.
| | - Irina Böckelmann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Deutschland
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Voltmer E, Köslich-Strumann S, Goetz K. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on professional life and well-being in German physicians: A cross-sectional study. Arch Environ Occup Health 2023; 78:321-328. [PMID: 37830498 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2023.2268506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed perceptions of German physicians' regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work-related issues as well as mental and physical health. Almost three quarters of the physicians felt stressed by the increased quantity (69%) and quality (73%) of the work and felt physically (68%) or mentally exhausted (71%). Also about three-quarters of physicians reported the pandemic having a strong impact on family life. A higher proportion feared to infect their family more than being infected themselves (66% vs 50%). Mental health scores were significantly lower in physicians compared to the general population. In female physicians, these findings were even more pronounced. Stressful work conditions and feelings of isolation were the most important predictors for mental health scores (R2 = 0.37), and also for motivation to work (R2 = 0.20). Preventive measures to strengthen resilience and optimize work organization are warranted to alleviate the toll of the pandemic on physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Voltmer
- Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Katja Goetz
- Institute of Family Medicine, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
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McCann B, Hunter SC, McAloney-Kocaman K, McCarthy P, Smith J, Calveley E. Time for You: A process evaluation of the rapid implementation of a multi-level mental health support intervention for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293393. [PMID: 37889922 PMCID: PMC10610521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had wide-ranging negative impacts on mental health. The pandemic also placed extraordinary strain on frontline workers who were required to continue working and putting themselves at risk to provide essential services at a time when their normal support mechanisms may not have been available. This paper presents an evaluation of the Time for You service, a rapidly developed and implemented intervention aimed at providing frontline workers with quick access to flexible online mental health support. Time for You provided service users with three service options: self-guided online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) resources; guided engagement with online CBT resources; 1-1 psychological therapy with trainee sport and exercise psychologists and trainee health psychologists. A process evaluation informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research considered service fidelity, adaptations, perceived impact, reach, barriers, and facilitators. Interviews with project managers (n = 5), delivery staff (n = 10), and service users (n = 14) explored perceptions of the service implementation and outcomes, supported by data regarding engagement with the online CBT platform (n = 217). Findings indicated that service users valued the flexibility of the service and the speed with which they were able to access support. The support offered by Trainee Psychologists was perceived to be of high quality, and the service was perceived by service users to have improved mental health and wellbeing. The rapid implementation contributed to issues regarding appropriate service user screening that led to trainee psychologists being unable to provide the service users with the support they needed as the presenting issues were outside of trainees' competencies. Overall, the findings suggest that interventions offering flexible, online psychological support to frontline workers can be an effective model for future interventions. Trainee psychologists are also able to play an important role in delivering such services when clear screening processes are in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan McCann
- Department of Psychology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Simon C. Hunter
- Department of Psychology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kareena McAloney-Kocaman
- Department of Psychology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McCarthy
- Department of Psychology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Smith
- Department of Psychology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Calveley
- Department of Psychology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Cockerham M, Kang DH, Beier ME. Consecutive Shifts: A Repeated Measure Study to Evaluate Stress, Biomarkers, Social Support, and Fatigue in Medical/Surgical Nurses. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:571. [PMID: 37504018 PMCID: PMC10376272 DOI: 10.3390/bs13070571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nurses report that they are required to work during their scheduled breaks and generally experience extended work times and heavy workloads due to staffing shortages. This study aimed to examine changes in personal, work-related, and overall stress, as well as biological responses and fatigue experienced by nurses during three consecutive 12 h workdays (i.e., the typical "three-twelves" schedule). We also considered the moderating effects of social resources. This prospective study of 81 medical/surgical nurses who completed questionnaires and provided saliva samples at four designated intervals (i.e., pre-shift and post-shift on workdays 1 and 3). Fatigue reported by night shift nurses increased significantly over three consecutive workdays (p = 0.001). Day shift nurses said they encountered more social support than those on the night shift (p = 0.05). Social support moderated the relationship between work-related stress at baseline and reported fatigue on day 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Cockerham
- School of Nursing, Sam Houston State University, The Woodlands, TX 77380, USA
- Houston Methodist, Willowbrook Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Duck-Hee Kang
- Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77355, USA
| | - Margaret E Beier
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Svob C, Murphy E, Wickramaratne PJ, Gameroff MJ, Talati A, van Dijk MT, Yangchen T, Weissman MM. Pre- and Post-Pandemic Religiosity and Mental Health Outcomes: A Prospective Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:6002. [PMID: 37297606 PMCID: PMC10252618 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20116002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Relatively few studies have prospectively examined the effects of known protective factors, such as religion, on pandemic-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pre- and post-pandemic trajectories and psychological effects of religious beliefs and religious attendance. Male and female adults (N = 189) reported their beliefs in religious importance (RI) and their religious attendance (RA) both before (T1) and after (T2) the pandemic's onset. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to track RI and RA from T1 to T2 and to test their effects on psychological outcomes at T1 and T2. The participants who reported a decrease in religious importance and attendance were greater in number than those who reported an increase, with RI (36.5% vs. 5.3%) and RA (34.4% vs. 4.8%). The individuals with decreased RI were less likely to know someone who had died from COVID-19 (O.R. =0.4, p = 0.027). The T1 RI predicted overall social adjustment (p < 0.05) and lower suicidal ideation (p = 0.05). The T2 RI was associated with lower suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). The online RA (T2) was associated with lower depression (p < 0.05) and lower anxiety (p < 0.05). Further research is needed to evaluate the mechanisms driving decreases in religiosity during pandemics. Religious beliefs and online religious attendance were beneficial during the pandemic, which bodes well for the use of telemedicine in therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie Svob
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Eleanor Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Priya J. Wickramaratne
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Marc J. Gameroff
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ardesheer Talati
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Milenna T. van Dijk
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tenzin Yangchen
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Myrna M. Weissman
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Einav M, Margalit M. Loneliness before and after COVID-19: Sense of Coherence and Hope as Coping Mechanisms. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:ijerph20105840. [PMID: 37239566 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major threat to public health, with long-lasting consequences for the daily habits and practices of people around the world. The combination of hazardous health conditions and extensive changes to people's daily routines due to lockdowns, social restrictions, and employment uncertainty have led to mental health challenges, reduced levels of subjective wellbeing, and increased maladaptive behaviors and emotional distress. Nevertheless, some studies have reported increased adaptive functioning and resilience after the pandemic, suggesting a more complex pattern of effects. The goals of the current study were to explore the role of two coping variables, sense of coherence and hope, in people's emotional wellbeing and adaptation in dealing with loneliness before and after such a stressful period. In a cross-sectional study, 974 Israeli participants (sample 1: 540 participants before the pandemic; sample 2: 434 participants after the pandemic restrictions) answered online questionnaires about their loneliness, hope and sense of coherence levels before and after the pandemic. While the two groups did not differ in their levels of hope, the participants in the group before COVID-19 reported lower levels of loneliness and sense of coherence. However, the results also indicated that although the COVID-19 pandemic was related to increased levels of loneliness, the participants' sense of coherence mediated this increase and their levels of hope moderated it. The theoretical contribution of these findings is discussed, as well as interventional implications and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Einav
- Behavioral Sciences Department, Peres Academic Center, Rechovot 7610202, Israel
- Behavioral Sciences Department, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yaffa, Tel-Aviv 6818218, Israel
| | - Malka Margalit
- Behavioral Sciences Department, Peres Academic Center, Rechovot 7610202, Israel
- School of Education, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997505, Israel
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11
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Willmund GD, Müller J, Schneegans N, Höllmer H, Wesemann U, Zimmermann PL, Helms C. The impact of the pandemic on the perception of stress and danger, and the adjustment of psychiatric and general medical staff of German military hospitals. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1141052. [PMID: 37260763 PMCID: PMC10227444 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1141052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic changed not only the working conditions but also the private conditions we live in. Health care professionals especially were confronted with multiple stressors, e.g., the risk of infection, lack of staff, and high workloads. Methods To estimate some of the pandemic-related impacts this anonymous personnel survey was conducted in two German military hospitals (Hamburg and Berlin). This study presents a comparative analysis of the hospital staff in general vs. the psychiatric personnel (N = 685) at two measurement time points (MTPs) in April 2021 (n = 399) and December 2021 (n = 286). The survey contains the German version of the Covid Stress Scale (CSS) to assess the perceived level of pandemic-related stress, the Patient Health Questionnaire (German Version: PHQ-D) to screen for three major mental disorders, and the adjustment disorder-New Module (ADNM) to estimate the problems of adaptation to change. Results The results showed a process of adaptation over the two MTPs with significant stress reduction at MTP2 in the general staff. The psychiatric staff did not report significantly higher pandemic-related symptoms. Quite the contrary, not only did the CSS show significantly lower xenophobia, traumatic stress, and compulsive checking, but the PHQ also showed lower stress symptoms and somatic symptoms at both MTPs. Also, the ADNM scores delivered evidence for a more effective adaptation process in psychiatric personnel (e.g., depressive mood, avoidance, anxiety). Discussion The presented results must be interpreted while taking the unique situations of German military clinics into account. The supply of protective material was sufficient and there was no dramatic shortage of psychiatric staff during the pandemic. The inpatients were quite often (40%) elective treatments for trauma-related disorders, which could be discontinued in the case of a COVID-19 infection. The results of this study showed good adaptative skills among the psychiatric staff in military hospitals, which could be interpreted as a sign of good resilience. This might have led to lower stress-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerd-Dieter Willmund
- Bundeswehr Centre for Military Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Müller
- Centre for Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Niels Schneegans
- Bundeswehr Centre for Military Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helge Höllmer
- Centre for Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Wesemann
- Bundeswehr Centre for Military Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Lutz Zimmermann
- Bundeswehr Centre for Military Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Helms
- Bundeswehr Centre for Military Mental Health, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Mogwitz S, Albus C, Beschoner P, Erim Y, Geiser F, Jerg-Bretzke L, Morawa E, Steudte-Schmiedgen S, Wintermann GB, Weidner K. Mental distress of physicians in the outpatient care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: emotional and supportive human relations matter - Cross-sectional results of the VOICE-study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:481. [PMID: 37173735 PMCID: PMC10180613 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09361-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the course of self-reported mental distress and quality of life (QoL) of physicians, working in the outpatient care (POC). Outcomes were compared with a control group of physicians working in the inpatient care (PIC), throughout the Corona Virus Disease (COVID)-19 pandemic. The impact of risk and protective factors in terms of emotional and supportive human relations on mental distress and perceived QoL of POC were of primary interest. METHODS Within the largest prospective, multi-center survey on mental health of health care workers (HCW), conducted during the first (T1) and second (T2) wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, we investigated the course of current burden (CB), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2) and QoL, cross-sectionally, in n = 848 POC (T1: n = 536, T2: n = 312). The primary outcomes were compared with an age- and gender-matchted control group of n = 458 PIC (T1: n = 262, T2: n = 196). COVID-19-, work-related, social risk and protective factors were examined. RESULTS At T1, POC showed no significant differences with respect to CB, depression, anxiety, and QoL, after Bonferroni correction. Whereas at T2, POC exhibited higher scores of CB (Cohen´s d/ Cd = .934, p < .001), depression (Cd = 1.648, p < 001), anxiety (Cd = 1.745, p < .001), work-family conflict (Cd = 4.170, p < .001) and lower QoL (Cd = .891, p = .002) compared with PIC. Nearly all assessed parameters of burden increased from T1 to T2 within the cohort of POC (e.g. depression: CD = 1.580, p < .001). Risk factors for mental distress of POC throughout the pandemic were: increased work-family conflict (CB: ß = .254, p < .001, 95% CI: .23, .28; PHQ-2: ß = .139, p = .011, 95% CI: .09, .19; GAD-2: ß = .207, p < .001, 95% CI: .16, .26), worrying about the patients´ security (CB: ß = .144, p = .007, 95% CI: .07, .22; PHQ-2: ß = .150, p = .006, 95% CI: .00, .30), fear of triage situations (GAD-2: ß = .132, p = .010, 95% CI: -.04, .31) and burden through restricted social contact in spare time (CB: ß = .146, p = .003, 95% CI: .07, .22; PHQ-2: ß = .187, p < .001, 95% CI: .03, .34; GAD-2: ß = .156, p = .003, 95% CI: -.01, .32). Protective factors for mental distress and QoL were the perceived protection by local authorities (CB: ß = -.302, p < .001, 95% CI: -.39, -.22; PHQ-2: ß = -.190, p < . 001, 95% CI: -.36, -.02; GAD-2: ß = -.211, p < .001, 95% CI: -.40, -.03; QoL: ß = .273, p < .001, 95% CI: .18, .36), trust in colleagues (PHQ-2: ß = -.181, p < .001, 95% CI: -.34, -.02; GAD-2: ß = -.199, p < .001, 95% CI: -.37, -.02; QoL: ß = .124, p = .017, 95% CI: .04, .21) and social support (PHQ-2: ß = -.180, p < .001, 95% CI: -.22, -.14; GAD-2: ß = -.127, p = .014, 95% CI: -.17, -.08; QoL: ß = .211, p < .001, 95% CI: .19, .23). CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, the protective role of emotional and supportive human relations on the mental distress and quality of life of POC should be taken into account more thoroughly, both in practice and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Mogwitz
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Christian Albus
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, Cologne, 50937, Germany
| | - Petra Beschoner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yesim Erim
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Maximiliansplatz 2, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Franziska Geiser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Clinic of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lucia Jerg-Bretzke
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva Morawa
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Maximiliansplatz 2, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gloria-Beatrice Wintermann
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Li Q, Liu L, Gu Z, Li M, Liu C, Wu H. Sense of coherence mediates perceived social support and depressive and anxiety symptoms in cervical cancer patients: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:312. [PMID: 37143028 PMCID: PMC10157999 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04792-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety symptoms are two common psychological disturbances in cervical cancer patients. We tested whether sense of coherence (SOC) mediates the association of perceived social support (PSS) with depression and anxiety symptoms among cervical cancer patients in China. METHODS We conducted a survey involving 294 cervical cancer patients aged ≥ 18 years from July to December 2020 at three hospitals in Liaoning Province, China; 269 patients completed the survey. We included a demographic questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) in this study. We used hierarchical regression analysis to examine the relationship among PSS, SOC, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. We used asymptotic and resampling strategies to explore the mediating effect of SOC. RESULTS PSS was negatively associated with depressive symptoms (r = - 0.439, P < 0.01) and anxiety symptoms (r = - 0.325, P < 0.01). SOC was negatively related to depressive symptoms (r = - 0.627, P < 0.01) and anxiety symptoms (r = - 0.411, P < 0.01). SOC partially mediated the association between PSS and depressive symptoms (a*b = - 0.23, BCa95% CI: [- 0.31, - 0.14]) and anxiety symptoms (a*b = - 0.15, BCa95% CI: [- 0.23, - 0.08]). The proportions of the mediating effect accounting for SOC were 49.78% and 41.73% for depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, respectively. CONCLUSION The study showed that SOC could mediate the association between PSS and symptoms of depression and anxiety. This suggests that SOC might serve as a potential target for intervention in symptoms of depression and anxiety that accompany cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110122, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110122, China
| | - Zhihui Gu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110122, China
| | - Mengyao Li
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110122, China
| | - Chunli Liu
- College of Medical Information, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110122, China.
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14
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Sikaras C, Tsironi M, Zyga S, Panagiotou A. Anxiety, insomnia and family support in nurses, two years after the onset of the pandemic crisis. AIMS Public Health 2023; 10:252-267. [PMID: 37304592 PMCID: PMC10251058 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2023019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause serious physical and mental problems for health professionals, particularly nurses. Aim To estimate the prevalence of anxiety and insomnia and to evaluate their possible association with family support received by nurses two years after the onset of the pandemic. Materials and methods In total, the study participants were 404 nurses (335 females and 69 males) with a mean age of 42.88 (SD = 10.9) years and a mean of 17.96 (SD = 12) years working as nurses. Nurses from five tertiary hospitals in Athens constituted the study population who completed the questionnaires State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Family Support Scale (FSS), in the months of November and December 2021. Regarding demographic and occupational characteristics, gender, age and years of experience as nurses were recorded. Results 60.1% of the nurses showed abnormal scores in state anxiety, with 46.8% in trait anxiety, and 61.4% showed insomnia. Women showed higher scores on the two subscales of anxiety and the insomnia scale compared to men (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively), while they showed a lower score on the FSS without statistical significance (p > 0.05). Positive correlations (p < 0.01) were found between the State Anxiety Inventory, Trait Anxiety Inventory and AIS, while all of them showed a high negative correlation with FSS (p < 0.01). Age showed a negative correlation with Trait Anxiety Inventory (p < 0.05). As shown by the mediation analysis, the relationship between state anxiety and insomnia was mediated by trait anxiety, whereas state anxiety appeared to be dependent on family support. Conclusions Nurses continue to experience high levels of anxiety and insomnia and feel less supported by their families than in the first year of the pandemic. Insomnia appears to be dependent on state anxiety, with a significant indirect effect of trait anxiety, while family support seems to affect state anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Sikaras
- University of the Peloponnese, Department of Nursing, 22100, Tripoli, Greece
- Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, Nursing Department, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Tsironi
- University of the Peloponnese, Department of Nursing, 22100, Tripoli, Greece
| | - Sofia Zyga
- University of the Peloponnese, Department of Nursing, 22100, Tripoli, Greece
| | - Aspasia Panagiotou
- University of the Peloponnese, Department of Nursing, 22100, Tripoli, Greece
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15
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Kelm M, Opalka K. ["In God alone my soul can find rest" (Ps 62:2) : Silence and pain in the Psalms and their narrativizations in Taizé]. Schmerz 2023. [PMID: 36897401 DOI: 10.1007/s00482-023-00700-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A theological perspective on dealing with crises that focuses on modes of endurance and gestalt, is supported by interdisciplinary resilience research. OBJECTIVE How can silence contribute to a productive coping with crises and pain? MATERIAL AND METHODS Texts and practices of the Christian tradition are discussed with respect to their ways of dealing with critical and painful situations, namely a) the Psalm texts of the Old Testament, which are examined by means of exegetical methods for historical and cultural aspects of meaning and b) the practice of silence in the prayers of the Taizé community, which are examined from a narrative hermeneutical perspective. RESULTS By understanding silence as an ambiguous and ambivalent phenomenon, it can contribute to a productive way of dealing with pain that enables perception, confrontation and acceptance. It is crucial not to regard the silence of a sufferer as a mere endurance, but also to have an eye on the creative potentials. Cultural and religious narratives and practices can help to locate oneself in a "space of silence" in such a way that a resilient way of dealing with experiences of pain becomes possible. CONCLUSION In order for silence to promote resilience, it is necessary to keep an eye on productive as well as destructive processes of silence as an ambivalent phenomenon: These processes occur in an uncontrollable way and are shaped by implicit normative assumptions. Silence can be experienced as loneliness, isolation and the loss of quality of life, or silence can become a place of encounter, of arrival, of security, and in prayer of trust in God.
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Mao EZ, Zhao L. The influence of job search stress on college students' addictive social media use: Seeking of social support and perceived social support as serial mediators and sense of coherence as a moderator. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1101674. [PMID: 36910808 PMCID: PMC9992423 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1101674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Resulting from an enlarged number of graduating college students and shrinkage of work opportunities, stress in relation to job search and employment is becoming an increasingly noticeable issue in China. Previous psychiatry research has suggested that social support can be conducive to reducing stress from multiple sources, while the effectiveness hinges on whether it is actually recognized and perceived by the recipients. The prevalence of social media has greatly facilitated the communication and exchange of social support information. However, they can also lead to overuse and addiction problems. This study aims to investigate how job search stress affects graduating college students' social media addiction severity using a serial mediation model and test the potential moderation effect of sense of coherence. Based on a sample of graduating college students (n = 144), our findings point out a significant pathway for the impacts of stress sequentially through seeking of social support and perceived social support. Furthermore, job search stress seems to have pronounced effects on the psychological need for social support only at low- and mid-levels of sense of coherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Zeqing Mao
- School of Cultural Creativity and Management, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lishou Zhao
- School of Cultural Creativity and Management, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
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17
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Wu Q, Yamaguchi Y, Greiner C. Factors Related to Mental Health of Foreign Care Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Comparative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:16491. [PMID: 36554370 PMCID: PMC9779326 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the factors related to the mental health of foreign care workers in Japan's long-term care (LTC) facilities and compare their results with those of native care workers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey covering 80 LTC facilities across Japan between August and November 2021. The survey mainly included mental health, workload, reward, sense of coherence, loneliness, COVID-19-specific factors and sociodemographic variables. The results show that workload was a distinct feature associated with the mental health of foreign care workers (n = 172) when compared with those of native care workers (n = 154). In addition, we found that the relationship between cultural adaptation and mental health in a sample of foreign care workers was mediated by loneliness and sense of coherence (SOC). Finally, we found that reward, loneliness, SOC, and COVID-19-specific factors had significant impacts on the mental health of both foreign and native care workers. These findings highlight the importance of support measures from the workplace for foreign care workers. Workplace interventions that focus on workload, reward, and sense of coherence strategies are required to address mental health improvement and may still be of value in dealing with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mai T, Franke V, Todisco L, Schilder M, Rohde G. [The situation of physicians in acute hospitals during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An online survey]. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes 2022; 174:52-58. [PMID: 36209033 PMCID: PMC9534542 DOI: 10.1016/j.zefq.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has an impact on the wellbeing of health care workers. The influence of a work-related sense of coherence as well as perceived organizational support on the level of burnout and the intention to leave the job is largely unknown, especially for physicians in German hospitals. METHOD In December 2020 and January 2021, physicians of 81 hospitals in Hessian (Germany) participated in an online survey using the BAT (Burnout Assessment Tool), Work-SoC (Work-related Sense of Coherence), the POS-s (Perceived Organizational SUPPORT - short version) and literature-based items based. RESULTS Of 181 physicians, 34% showed a moderate or high burnout level, 21% would leave the job after the pandemic. The higher the work-SoC (β = -0.560; p < 0.001) and the higher the POS-s (β = -0.125; p < 0.05), the lower the burnout level. Not being able to care sufficiently for their patients has a negative impact on the sense of coherence. 46.4% reported that they did not feel sufficiently prepared by their employer during the pandemic. They wished to have support in the form of the mindfulness and resilience trainings (45%), emergency childcare (41%) and a crisis counselor in their team (32%). CONCLUSION Regardless of the pandemic, health-promoting work conditions have to be developed that facilitate coherent work and prevent "moral injuries" or enable physicians to deal with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Mai
- Stabsstelle Pflegentwicklung, Pflegedirektion, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
| | - Vanessa Franke
- Stabsstelle Pflegentwicklung, Pflegedirektion, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland
| | - Laura Todisco
- Stabsstelle Pflegentwicklung, Pflegedirektion, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland
| | - Michael Schilder
- Fachbereich Pflege- und Gesundheitswissenschaft ev. Hochschule Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Deutschland
| | - Gernot Rohde
- Leiter des Schwerpunktes Pneumologie/ Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland
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Bani M, Russo S, Cardinale C, Ardenghi S, Rampoldi G, Luciani M, Ausili D, Di Mauro S, Strepparava MG. "Jumping into the COVID-19 arena": The professional transition into clinical practice of new graduate nurses in Italy at time of COVID-19. J Clin Nurs 2022:10.1111/jocn.16554. [PMID: 36200286 PMCID: PMC9875123 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of the professional transition of new graduate nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND The transition from the role of student to the professional role can be challenging for new graduate nurses for the acquisition of higher autonomy and responsibility. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the quality of the professional transition. DESIGN This was a cross-sectional observational study following the Strengthening and Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. METHODS One hundred and two nurses who graduated in three consecutive sessions (November 2019-pre-pandemic, March 2020-pandemic outbreak, and November 2020-2nd wave) in a north Italian university located in the most affected Italian region by the COVID-19 pandemic, completed an online survey assessing well-being, risk of burnout, resilience, perceived stigma, strengths and limitations and quality of the professional transition. The study was performed between March and May 2021. RESULTS 81.4% of participants described the professional transition as worse than expected, and new graduate nurses who worked in COVID-19 settings reported a more difficult transition to professional life. No differences emerged in burnout, mental well-being and perceived stigma between new graduate nurses who worked in COVID-19 settings and those who did not. Similarly, no differences emerged amongst the three graduated cohort sessions. The most commonly mentioned challenges faced during the transition were organisational aspects, suddenly acquired autonomy and lack of suitable coaching. CONCLUSION New graduate nurses reported a challenging academic-professional transition, in particular, those who worked in COVID-19 settings. The mid- and long-term impact of experiencing an academic-professional transition in COVID-19 settings should be assessed and monitored. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The professional transition of new graduate students should be adequately planned and monitored, new graduates should be assisted to develop realistic expectations about the transition, and an adequate coaching period should be guaranteed all the more during health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bani
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Selena Russo
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Chiara Cardinale
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Stefano Ardenghi
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Giulia Rampoldi
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Michela Luciani
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Davide Ausili
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Stefania Di Mauro
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Maria Grazia Strepparava
- School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly,Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental HealthSan Gerardo Hospital, ASST MonzaMonzaItaly
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Schäfer SK, Sopp MR, Koch M, Göritz AS, Michael T. The long-term buffering effect of sense of coherence on psychopathological symptoms during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective observational study. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 153:236-244. [PMID: 35841820 PMCID: PMC9257329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is a major chronic stressor affecting all societies and almost all individuals. Consequently, research demonstrated a negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health in parts of the general population. However, not all people are affected equally thus making the identification of resilience factors modulating the pandemic's impact on mental health an important research agenda. One of these factors is sense of coherence (SOC), the key component of the salutogenesis framework. The current study aimed at investigating the long-term relationship between SOC and psychopathological symptoms, and the impact of COVID-19-related rumination as its moderator. The prospective observational study assessed psychopathological symptoms and SOC before the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany (February 2020) and at six critical time points during the pandemic in an online panel (n = 1,479). Bivariate latent change score models and latent growth mixture modeling were used to analyze changes in psychopathological symptoms and SOC along with their interaction and to differentiate trajectories of COVID-19-related rumination. A model allowing for unidirectional coupling from SOC to psychopathological symptoms demonstrated best fit. In the total sample, psychopathological symptoms increased significantly over time. Previous SOC predicted later changes in psychopathological symptoms, whereby a stronger SOC was associated with a decrease in symptoms over time. The same pattern of results was evident in the high-rumination (17.2%) but not in the low-rumination group (82.8%). Our findings demonstrate that SOC is an important predictor and modulator of psychopathological symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in those respondents that ruminate about the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Schäfer
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Germany.
| | - M Roxanne Sopp
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Germany
| | - Marco Koch
- Department of Differential Psychology and Psychodiagnostics, Saarland University, Germany
| | - Anja S Göritz
- Occupational and Consumer Psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Michael
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Germany
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21
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Zhong D, Liu C, Luan C, Li W, Cui J, Shi H, Zhang Q. Mental health problems among healthcare professionals following the workplace violence issue-mediating effect of risk perception. Front Psychol 2022; 13:971102. [PMID: 36160531 PMCID: PMC9491225 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.971102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there have been numerous studies on mental wellbeing impairment or other negative consequences of Workplace Violence (WPV) against healthcare professionals, however, the effects of WPV are not limited to those who experience WPV in person, but those who exposed to WPV information indirectly. In the aftermath of "death of Dr. Yang Wen," a cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the psychological status of healthcare professionals. A total of 965 healthcare professionals from 32 provinces in China participated in our research. The prevalence rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, anxiety among healthcare professional in the current study were 25.60, 46.01, and 27.88%, respectively. Moreover, our research suggested that the awareness of WPV-incident had a significant association with PTSD symptoms. In addition, risk perception was shown to mediate the effect of WPV awareness on PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, the present research also found a U-shaped relationship between issue salience and PTSD symptoms, and the relationship between issue salience and anxiety, indicating that higher awareness of WPV issue was negatively related to mental health status (including PTSD and anxiety) but only to the points at which there were no additional effects of more issue salience. This study highlighted that more protective measures for healthcare professionals need to be implemented in response to potential WPV events. More importantly, risk perception was found to mediate the effect of WPV issue salience on PTSD symptoms, it is critical to reduce the mental health burden through intervening in risk perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deping Zhong
- School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengcheng Liu
- School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunna Luan
- Beijing Nutrinst Medical Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiuwei Cui
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanping Shi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery/Clinical Nutrition, Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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22
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Mosavel M, Hoadley A, Akinkugbe AA, Garcia DT, Bass SB. Religiosity and COVID-19: Impact on Use of Remote Worship and Changes in Self-Reported Social Support. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:9891. [PMID: 36011525 PMCID: PMC9407840 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19169891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This study examines associations between changes in the use of remote worship services and changes in the types of social support among religious adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional, web survey data (n = 461; 15 May to 6 July 2020) were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multinomial logistic regression models calculated unadjusted odds of increases and decreases of three types of perceived social support from before to during COVID-19 based on remote worship use. Results: Adults who initiated use of remote worship had lower odds of gaining social support for personal problems (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.79) and greater odds of reporting less ease of getting practical help from neighbors (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.02) compared to adults who never used or stopped using remote worship. Adults who continued using remote worship services were more likely to report less ease of getting practical help from their neighbors (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.17, 4.25) and decreased interest and concern felt from other people (OR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.24, 5.51) than adults who never used or stopped using remote worship. Conclusions: Adults who initiated and continued using remote worship during the COVID-19 pandemic had poorer perceived social support outcomes relative to adults who never used or stopped using remote services. Despite continued engagement with their religious communities, adults participating in worship remotely may have had residual personal, emotional, and instrumental social support needs that remote worship did not mitigate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maghboeba Mosavel
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 830 East Main Street, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Ariel Hoadley
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Ninth Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Aderonke A. Akinkugbe
- Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dina T. Garcia
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 830 East Main Street, P.O. Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Sarah Bauerle Bass
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Ninth Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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Jin Y, Bi Q, Song G, Wu J, Ding H. Psychological coherence, inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism in obstetrics and gynecology nurses: a multi-site survey. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:525. [PMID: 35922834 PMCID: PMC9351111 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Implicit absenteeism is very common among clinical nurses. We aimed to evaluate the role of psychological coherence in the inclusive leadership and implicit absenteeism among obstetrics and gynecology nurses, to provide evidence to the clinical management of nurses. METHODS Through the convenience sampling method, a survey of gynecology nurses in tertiary hospitals in 16 cities of Anhui Province, China was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, the Stanford Implicit Absence Scale, the Inclusive Leadership Scale and the Sense of Coherence Scale. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 20. RESULTS A total of 1080 nurses were included with an effective response rate of 93.5%. The average score of nurses' recessive absenteeism in this study was (16.8 ± 0.15). The average of inclusive leadership score was (34.25 ± 7.23). The average score of psychological coherence score of obstetrics and gynecology nurses was (55.79 ± 8.28). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a relationship between implicit absenteeism behavior, inclusive leadership, and the level of psychological coherence in obstetrics and gynecology nurses (all P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis indicated that psychological coherence played a partial mediating role between inclusive leadership and obstetrics and gynecology nurses' implicit absenteeism (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Obstetrics and gynecology nurses have serious recessive absenteeism with low sense of psychological coherence and inclusive leadership. Nursing managers should improve the psychological coherence through effective interventions, thereby reducing the incidence of implicit absenteeism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jin
- Hefei, China ,grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Binhu Healthcare Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001 China
| | - Qingquan Bi
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
| | - Guiqi Song
- Department of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
| | - Hui Ding
- grid.59053.3a0000000121679639Department of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001 China
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24
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González-Siles P, Martí-Vilar M, González-Sala F, Merino-Soto C, Toledano-Toledano F. Sense of Coherence and Work Stress or Well-Being in Care Professionals: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:1347. [PMID: 35885873 PMCID: PMC9323122 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10071347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Job-related stress affects the physical and psychological health of professionals dedicated to care. This work is a systematic review that aims to determine the relationships between a sense of coherence (SOC) and work stress and well-being perceived by care professionals. The review was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines, and the search was carried out using the Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, and Scopus databases, obtaining a final selection of 41 articles. The results indicate that stress, depression, burnout, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) negatively correlate with SOC; in contrast, job satisfaction, well-being, and quality of life positively correlate with SOC. It is concluded that SOC could act as a mediating variable and as a predictor variable of these health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo González-Siles
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Universitat de València, Avgda, Blasco Ibañez, 21, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain; (P.G.-S.); (M.M.-V.)
| | - Manuel Martí-Vilar
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Universitat de València, Avgda, Blasco Ibañez, 21, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain; (P.G.-S.); (M.M.-V.)
| | - Francisco González-Sala
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de València, Avgda, Blasco Ibañez, 21, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - César Merino-Soto
- Instituto de Investigación de Psicología, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Av. Tomás Marsano 242, Lima 34, Peru;
| | - Filiberto Toledano-Toledano
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Basada en Evidencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, National Institute of Health, Dr. Márquez 162, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
- Unidad de Investigación Sociomédica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra, Calzada Mexico-Xochimilco 289, Arenal de Guadalupe, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
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25
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Novak AM, Katz A, Bitan M, Lev-Ari S. The Association between the Sense of Coherence and the Self-Reported Adherence to Guidelines during the First Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19. [PMID: 35805697 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Social distancing became a central strategy employed to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We explore self-reported adherence (SRA) and factors associated with SRA among Israeli adults at the end of the first national lockdown in Israel. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional consumer panel survey of 820 Israeli adults aged 18 to 70 in May and June 2020. We collected data on the SRA to the social distancing measures, sociodemographic variables, perceptions of pandemic-related danger and of protection provided by the social distancing measures, as well as Sense of Coherence (SoC). (3) Results: 60% of respondents reported complying with 7 measures. Higher SoC was associated with higher SRA (p = 0.04), and was related to income, marital status, age, profession, and education. The SRA was higher among Jews than Arabs (Jews: Mean = 10.5, SD = 4.5; Arabs: Mean = 9.1, SD = 4.1, p < 0.001) and among males (Males: Mean = 10.8, SD = 4.7; Females: Mean = 9, SD = 4.1; p = 0.003). SoC, perception of protection and perception of danger were associated with higher SRA (p = 0.42, p < 0.001 and p = 0.005 respectively). Single people reported higher levels of SRA than people in relationships (Partnered: Mean = 9.7, SD = 4.2, Non-partnered: Mean = 10.9, SD = 4.7, p = 0.033). (4) Conclusions: At the time of exit from the first lockdown, compliance with social distancing measures was high, with Jewish, single and male Israelis more likely to adhere to the guidelines. We identified the populations at risk for non-adherence and associated factors, reporting for the first time the correlation between SoC and SRA. Further research is needed to assess the role of these factors in Jewish and Arab populations.
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Schmuck J, Hiebel N, Kriegsmann-rabe M, Schneider J, Matthias J, Erim Y, Morawa E, Jerg-bretzke L, Beschoner P, Albus C, Weidner K, Radbruch L, Hauschildt E, Geiser F. Individual Stress Burden and Mental Health in Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderating and Mediating Effects of Resilience. IJERPH 2022; 19:6545. [PMID: 35682131 PMCID: PMC9180092 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic generated a significant burden on the German health care system, affecting the mental health of health care workers (HCW) in particular. Resilience may serve as an essential protective factor for individuals’ well-being. Objective: Our objective was to identify demographic and work-related correlates of individual resilience and to investigate the association between pandemic-related stress, resilience and mental health using different resilience models. Methods: Our sample comprised 1034 German HCW in different medical professions who completed an online survey from 20 April to 1 July 2020. Resilience was assessed using the Resilience Scale-5 (RS-5). The pandemic-related self-reported stress burden was captured by a single item, while depression and anxiety symptoms were measured with the PHQ-2 and GAD-2, respectively. Additionally, various sociodemographic and work-related factors were assessed. Results: Overall, we found high levels of resilience in the sample compared to a German sample before the pandemic, which were significantly associated only with the older age of participants and having children in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Regarding mechanisms of resilience, moderation analysis revealed that low individual resilience and high pandemic-related stress burden independently contributed to both anxiety and depression symptoms while resilience additionally moderated the relationship between stress burden and anxiety symptoms. The link between self-reported stress burden and mental health symptoms was also partially mediated by individual resilience. Conclusion: Taken together, the findings based on the present sample during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that resilience plays a central role in the mental health of healthcare workers and that resilience-building interventions should be expanded, especially with a focus on younger employees.
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27
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Berger-Estilita J, Abegglen S, Hornburg N, Greif R, Fuchs A. Health-Promoting Quality of Life at Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study on the Work-Related Sense of Coherence in Acute Care Healthcare Professionals. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19106053. [PMID: 35627590 PMCID: PMC9140864 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: During a pandemic, the wellbeing of healthcare professionals is crucial. We investigated the long-term association of the Work-related Sense of Coherence (Work-SoC) and the evolution of psychological health symptoms of acute care healthcare professionals during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This longitudinal observational study enrolled 520 multinational healthcare professionals, who completed an online survey every three months from April 2020 to April 2021. Mixed linear models examined the associations between Work-SOC and COVID-19-related anxiety, perceived vulnerability, depressiveness, and psychological trauma symptomatology. (3) Results: Healthcare professionals with a higher Work-SoC reported lower levels of COVID-19-related anxiety, perceived vulnerability, depressiveness, and psychological trauma symptomatology in April 2020 than healthcare professionals with an average or lower Work-SoC, but the levels increased to higher values in April 2021. Healthcare professionals with a lower Work-SoC reported higher levels of depressiveness and psychological trauma symptomatology in April 2020 but lower levels in April 2021. (4) Conclusions: Healthcare professionals with higher levels of Work-related Sense of Coherence might be protected against variations in psychological symptoms for about three months, but this protection seems to decrease as the pandemic continues, resulting in mental health deterioration. In contrast, healthcare professionals with a lower Work-SoC might be protected at later stages of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Berger-Estilita
- Institute for Medical Education, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- CINTESIS—Centre for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Sandra Abegglen
- Department of Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (S.A.); (N.H.)
| | - Nadja Hornburg
- Department of Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (S.A.); (N.H.)
| | - Robert Greif
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (R.G.); (A.F.)
- School of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, 1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Fuchs
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (R.G.); (A.F.)
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28
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Hannemann J, Abdalrahman A, Erim Y, Morawa E, Jerg-Bretzke L, Beschoner P, Geiser F, Hiebel N, Weidner K, Steudte-Schmiedgen S, Albus C. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical staff considering the interplay of pandemic burden and psychosocial resources-A rapid systematic review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264290. [PMID: 35192662 PMCID: PMC8863237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In times of the global corona pandemic health care workers (HCWs) fight the disease at the frontline of healthcare services and are confronted with an exacerbated load of pandemic burden. Psychosocial resources are thought to buffer adverse effects of pandemic stressors on mental health. This rapid review summarizes evidence on the specific interplay of pandemic burden and psychosocial resources with regard to the mental health of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to derive potential starting points for supportive interventions. METHODS We conducted a rapid systematic review following the recommendations of the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group. We searched 7 databases in February 2021 and included peer-reviewed quantitative studies, that reported related data on pandemic stressors, psychosocial resources, and mental health of HCWs. RESULTS 46 reports were finally included in the review and reported data on all three outcomes at hand. Most studies (n = 41) applied a cross-sectional design. Our results suggest that there are several statistically significant pandemic risk factors for mental health problems in HCWs such as high risk and fear of infection, while resilience, active and emotion-focused coping strategies as well as social support can be considered beneficial when protecting different aspects of mental health in HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence for patterns of interaction between outcomes were found in the context of coping style when facing specific pandemic stressors. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that several psychosocial resources may play an important role in buffering adverse effects of pandemic burden on the mental health of HCWs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, causal interpretations of mentioned associations are inadequate due to the overall low study quality and the dominance of cross-sectional study designs. Prospective longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the missing links.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Hannemann
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alan Abdalrahman
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yesim Erim
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva Morawa
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lucia Jerg-Bretzke
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Petra Beschoner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Franziska Geiser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nina Hiebel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen
- Department for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Albus
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Xu RH, Shi LSB, Xia Y, Wang D. Associations among eHealth literacy, social support, individual resilience, and emotional status in primary care providers during the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. Digit Health 2022; 8:20552076221089789. [PMID: 35355807 PMCID: PMC8958311 DOI: 10.1177/20552076221089789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to investigate eHealth literacy among primary care providers (PCPs) and explore its association with social support, individual resilience, anxiety, and depression during an outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Guangzhou, China. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 18 community healthcare centers in Guangzhou, China. The responses of 600 PCPs were tagged as valid responses. Information pertaining to their background, eHealth literacy, anxiety, depression levels, social support, and individual resilience was also collected. Multilevel analysis was used to determine the association among the measures to account for the nested random effect of community health centers in different districts. Results Participants showed a moderate self-perceived level of eHealth literacy (M = 30, SD = 5.8). Participants who reported higher levels of eHealth literacy were more likely to exhibit lower levels of anxiety and depression, higher social support, and greater resilience. After adjusting for background characteristics, the results of the multilevel logistic analysis showed that eHealth literacy was significantly associated with anxiety and depression, social support, and individual resilience. Younger participants and those who were highly educated reported enhanced eHealth literacy. Conclusions This study presents a baseline reference for eHealth literacy among Chinese PCPs. Improving their ability to search for and use reliable web-based information was beneficial for facilitating perceived social support and raising resilience during the pandemic. Strategies to provide high-quality web-based information to PCPs to self-assess and identify psychological distress at an early stage should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Huan Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lu-shao-bo Shi
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Xia
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Wang
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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30
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Harris S, Jenkinson E, Carlton E, Roberts T, Daniels J. "It's Been Ugly": A Large-Scale Qualitative Study into the Difficulties Frontline Doctors Faced across Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:13067. [PMID: 34948675 PMCID: PMC8701930 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to gain an uncensored insight into the most difficult aspects of working as a frontline doctor across successive COVID-19 pandemic waves. Data collected by the parent study (CERA) was analysed using conventional content analysis. Participants comprised frontline doctors who worked in emergency, anaesthetic, and intensive care medicine in the UK and Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 1379). All seniority levels were represented, 42.8% of the sample were male, and 69.2% were white. Four themes were identified with nine respective categories (in parentheses): (1) I'm not a COVID hero, I'm COVID cannon fodder (exposed and unprotected, "a kick in the teeth"); (2) the relentlessness and pervasiveness of COVID ("no respite", "shifting sands"); (3) the ugly truths of the frontline ("inhumane" care, complex team dynamics); (4) an overwhelmed system exacerbated by COVID (overstretched and under-resourced, constant changes and uncertainty, the added hinderance of infection control measures). Findings reflect the multifaceted challenges faced after successive pandemic waves; basic wellbeing needs continue to be neglected and the emotional impact is further pronounced. Steps are necessary to mitigate the repeated trauma exposure of frontline doctors as COVID-19 becomes endemic and health services attempt to recover with inevitable long-term sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Harris
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;
| | - Elizabeth Jenkinson
- Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK;
| | - Edward Carlton
- North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; (E.C.); (T.R.)
- Trainee Emergency Research Network (TERN), Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London EC4A 1DT, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Tom Roberts
- North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; (E.C.); (T.R.)
- Trainee Emergency Research Network (TERN), Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London EC4A 1DT, UK
| | - Jo Daniels
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;
- North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; (E.C.); (T.R.)
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Jerg-Bretzke L, Kempf M, Jarczok MN, Weimer K, Hirning C, Gündel H, Erim Y, Morawa E, Geiser F, Hiebel N, Weidner K, Albus C, Beschoner P. Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers and Initial Areas of Action for Intervention and Prevention-The egePan/VOICE Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:10531. [PMID: 34639831 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Epidemics lead to an increase in occupational stress and psychological strain among healthcare workers. However, the impact of a pandemic outbreak on healthcare systems is yet to be clearly defined. Therefore, this work aims to describe and analyze specific areas of workload among different groups of healthcare workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A sample of N = 8088 persons working in the German-speaking healthcare sector participated in the VOICE/egePan online survey, which addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter of 2020. We used 15 self-constructed items, based on the work of Matsuishi et al. (2012), to identify potential COVID-19-specific topics. Results: N = 7542 records of healthcare workers were analyzed. Of these, 60.80% reported, retrospectively, an increase in stress since the outbreak of the pandemic. Problem areas tended to be indicated more frequently by the women surveyed than by the men. Nurses, paramedics and medical technicians reported the highest fear of infecting others while physicians reported the highest fear of physical or mental exhaustion. With respect to age, older respondents indicated less fear and felt more protected. Men and people living alone were more likely to use dysfunctional coping strategies. Migrants reported a higher fear of becoming infected or infecting others as well as they reported about increased levels of smoking. Discussion: Retrospectively, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in stress among healthcare workers. Problem areas have different focuses with regard to different living situations, environmental conditions and professions. In order to lay the best basis for healthy and efficient work, it seems necessary to take measures especially tailored to the needs of different groups of healthcare workers.
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