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Corrente M, Park J, Akuamoah-Boateng H, Atanackovic J, Bourgeault IL. Work & life stress experienced by professional workers during the pandemic: a gender-based analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1441. [PMID: 38811928 PMCID: PMC11137937 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted work and home life exacerbating pre-existing stressors and introducing new ones. These impacts were notably gendered. In this paper, we explore the different work and home life related stressors of professional workers specifically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic through the gender-based analysis of two pan Canadian surveys: The Canadian Community Health Survey (2019, 2020, 2021) and the Healthy Professional Worker Survey (2021). Analyses revealed high rates of work stress among professional workers compared to other workers and this was particularly notable for women. Work overload emerged as the most frequently selected source of work stress, followed by digital stress, poor work relations, and uncertainty. Similar trends were noted in life stress among professional workers, particularly women. Time pressure consistently stood out as the primary source of non-work stress, caring for children and physical and mental health conditions. These findings can help to develop more targeted and appropriate workplace mental health promotion initiatives that are applicable to professional workers taking gender more fully into consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Corrente
- School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON, K1N6N5, Canada
| | - Jungwee Park
- Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, 150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Henrietta Akuamoah-Boateng
- School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON, K1N6N5, Canada
| | - Jelena Atanackovic
- School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON, K1N6N5, Canada
| | - Ivy Lynn Bourgeault
- School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON, K1N6N5, Canada.
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Xiong NN, Fan TT, Liu Q, Fritzsche K, Leonhart R, Stein B, Waller C, Müller MM. Burnout, emotional distress and sleep quality among Chinese psychiatric healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a follow-up study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1272074. [PMID: 38179557 PMCID: PMC10764523 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1272074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Different from the very early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout and chronic mental health problems among health care workers (HCWs) has become a challenge. Research is lacking on the relationship between burnout, stress, emotional distress and sleep quality. Methods The Chinese center has been involved in the Cope-Corona project since the second survey (T2). Named after the project, a total of three cross-sectional surveys were distributed: T2 (February 16-20, 2021), T3 (May 10-14, 2022), and T4 (December 20-24, 2022). Burnout, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, workplace factors and individual resources were measured. Using the T4 data, we conducted structural equation model (SEM) to examine the mediating role of burnout in predicting emotional distress and sleep quality. Results 96, 124, and 270 HCWs were enrolled at T2, T3, and T4, respectively. In line with the epidemic trends, the level of perceived COVID-19 related risks was significantly higher at T4, while the feeling of health and safety decreased significantly. At T4, the percentages of participants with clinically significant levels of depression and anxiety symptoms were 18.9% (51/270) and 9.3% (25/270), respectively, while 30.4% (82/270) of them reported poor or very poor sleep quality. According to the SEM, individual resources and workplace factors mainly had an indirect effect in predicting depression and anxiety via burnout. However, neither burnout nor stress was a mediator or predictor of sleep quality. Instead, individual resources, positive workplace factors, and younger age had a direct effect in predicting good sleep quality. Conclusion Measures designed to enhance workplace factors and individual resources should be implemented to improve psychosomatic wellbeing of HCWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-na Xiong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Teng-teng Fan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kurt Fritzsche
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Mental Health, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Leonhart
- Department for Social Psychology and Methodology, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Stein
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Markus M. Müller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
- Social and Organizational Psychology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Eichstätt, Germany
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Lanzara R, Conti C, Rosa I, Pawłowski T, Malecka M, Rymaszewska J, Porcelli P, Stein B, Waller C, Müller MM. Changes in hospital staff' mental health during the Covid‑19 pandemic: Longitudinal results from the international COPE-CORONA study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285296. [PMID: 37972086 PMCID: PMC10653404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This longitudinal study aimed to explore anxiety and depressive symptoms, individual resources, and job demands in a multi-country sample of 612 healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two online surveys were distributed to HCWs in seven countries (Germany, Andorra, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Romania, Iran) during the first (May-October 2020, T1) and the second (February-April 2021, T2) phase of the pandemic, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, contact with COVID-19 patients, anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-compassion, sense of coherence, social support, risk perception, and health and safety at the workplace. HCWs reported a significant increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms. HCWs with high depressive or anxiety symptoms at T1 and T2 reported a history of mental illness and lower self-compassion and sense of coherence over time. Risk perception, self-compassion, sense of coherence, and social support were strong independent predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms at T2, even after controlling for baseline depressive or anxiety symptoms and sociodemographic variables. These findings pointed out that HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak experienced a high burden of psychological distress. The mental health and resilience of HCWs should be supported during disease outbreaks by instituting workplace interventions for psychological support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lanzara
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Chiara Conti
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Ilenia Rosa
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Tomasz Pawłowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Monika Malecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Piero Porcelli
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Barbara Stein
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Markus M Müller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
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Budzyńska N, Moryś J. Stress, Burnout, and General Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Poland during the Long-Lasting COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2617. [PMID: 37830654 PMCID: PMC10572419 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11192617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Medical professions are characterized by a great responsibility for human health and life; they are also vulnerable to burnout. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and threats. This study aimed to assess the mental health of healthcare workers after a year and a half of working in COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were utilized in this cross-sectional investigation. A total of 335 healthcare employees from Polish hospitals (median age 44 years) filled out online questionnaires between the 16 August 2021 and the 30 March 2022. Most of the sample was female (86%). In this study, 40.0% of the surveyed healthcare workers reported a high stress intensity. Burnout was reported by 9.6% of the workers, and the most frequently experienced symptom was psychophysical exhaustion. Almost half of the healthcare workers surveyed (49.6%) reported health disorders at both the mental and physiological levels. Interestingly, working in a COVID-19 ward did not significantly differentiate healthcare workers in any of the evaluated variables: PSS-10 (gr. A F = 1.21; gr. B F = 0.71; p > 0.05), LBQ (gr. A F = 1.89, F = 0.94, F = 1.08, F = 2.57; gr. B F = 0.32, F = 1.14, F = 0.77, F = 0.36; p > 0.05), and GHQ-28 (gr. A F = 0.85, F = 0.52, F = 0.57, F = 0.31; gr. B F = 0.31, F = 0.06, F = 0.06, F = 0.54; p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the compared occupational groups of healthcare workers: PSS-10 (F = 1.08; p > 0.05) and GHQ-28 (F = 1.78; F = 0.85; F = 0.62; F = 0.54; p > 0.05). The mental health of healthcare workers is alarming, and psychophysical conditions can affect the quality of work and relations with patients. Psychological care in workplaces and workshops that build resources for dealing with difficult situations are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Budzyńska
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
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Müller MM, Baillès E, Blanch J, Torres X, Rousaud A, Cañizares S, Cervera Teruel M, Conti C, Dunne PJ, Stanculete MF, Farré JM, Font E, Gayán E, Guagnano MT, König S, Kundinger N, Lanzara R, Lobo A, Nejatisafa AA, Obach A, Offiah G, Peri JM, Rosa I, Schuster SK, Waller C, Stein B. Burnout among hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal results from the international Cope-Corona survey study. J Psychosom Res 2023; 164:111102. [PMID: 36508846 PMCID: PMC9677553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Long-term changes in burnout and its predictors in hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated in an international study. METHODS Two online surveys were distributed to hospital staff in seven countries (Germany, Andorra, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Romania, Iran) between May and October 2020 (T1) and between February and April 2021 (T2), using the following variables: Burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization), job function, age, gender, and contact with COVID-19 patients; individual resources (self-compassion, sense of coherence, social support) and work-related resources and demands (support at the workplace, risk perception, health and safety at the workplace, altruistic acceptance of risk). Data were analyzed using linear mixed models repeated measures, controlled for age. RESULTS A total of 612 respondents were included (76% women). We found an increase in burnout from T1 to T2. Burnout was high among personnel with high contact with COVID-19 patients. Individual factors (self-compassion, sense of coherence) and work-related factors (support at the workplace, risk perception, health and safety at the workplace) showed associations with burnout. Low health and safety at the workplace at T1 was associated with an increase in emotional exhaustion at T2. Men showed an increase in depersonalization if they had much contact with COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION Burnout represents a potential problematic consequence of occupational contact with COVID-19 patients. Special attention should be paid to this group in organizational health management. Self-compassion, sense of coherence, support at the workplace, risk perception, and health and safety at the workplace may be important starting points for interventions. REGISTRATION Müller, M. M. (2020, August 30). Cope-Corona: Identifying and strengthening personal resources of hospital staff to cope with the Corona pandemic. Open Science Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus M. Müller
- Corresponding author at: Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Prof-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90418 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Eva Baillès
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Jordi Blanch
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Xavier Torres
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Araceli Rousaud
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Silvia Cañizares
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Marta Cervera Teruel
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Chiara Conti
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | | | - Mihaela Fadgyas Stanculete
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Josep Maria Farré
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Elena Font
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Elena Gayán
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Maria Teresa Guagnano
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Sarah König
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Nina Kundinger
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Roberta Lanzara
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Antonio Lobo
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Ali-Akbar Nejatisafa
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Amadeu Obach
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Gozie Offiah
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Josep Maria Peri
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Ilenia Rosa
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Sara Katharina Schuster
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Christiane Waller
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
| | - Barbara Stein
- Paracelsus Medical University, General Hospital Nuremberg, Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany.
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