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).
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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 |
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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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