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Coping with psychological distress during COVID-19: a cautionary note of self-criticalness and personal resilience among healthcare workers

Hughes, Luke; Taylor, Rachel M; Fern, Lorna A; Monaghan, Lisa; Flint, Beverley; Gibbons, Sue; Petrella, Anika; (2023) Coping with psychological distress during COVID-19: a cautionary note of self-criticalness and personal resilience among healthcare workers. Continuity & Resilience Review 10.1108/crr-10-2022-0024. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in immense pressure on healthcare workers (HCWs) and healthcare systems worldwide. The current multi-centre evaluation sought to explore the association between coping behaviours and levels of psychological distress among HCWs working during the initial onset of COVID-19. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Between April and July 2020 HCWs at three urban hospitals in England were invited to complete an online survey measuring personal and professional characteristics, psychological distress and coping. A principal component analysis (PCA) identified components of coping and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the relationship between components of coping and psychological distress. FINDINGS: A total of 2,254 HCWs participated (77% female, 67% white, 66% in clinical roles). Three components for coping were retained in the PCA analysis: external strategies, internal strategies and self-criticalness/substance use. SEM indicated that internally based coping was associated with lower levels of psychological distress, whereas externally based coping and self-criticalness were associated with greater psychological distress. The final model accounted for 35% of the variance in psychological distress. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This multi-centre evaluation provides unique insight into the level of psychological distress among HCWs during the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) and associated coping strategies. Addressing self-criticalness and supporting cognitive-based internal coping strategies among HCWs may protect against prolonged exposure to psychological distress. Findings highlight the importance of developing a culture of professional resilience among this vital workforce as a whole rather than placing pressure on an individual's personal resilience.

Type: Article
Title: Coping with psychological distress during COVID-19: a cautionary note of self-criticalness and personal resilience among healthcare workers
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1108/crr-10-2022-0024
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1108/crr-10-2022-0024
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: COVID-19, Healthcare workers, psychological distress, coping, resilience
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Targeted Intervention
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10178805
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