Predictors of poor psychological functioning of healthcare workers based in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Puri, Basant K. Miari, Anastasia Theodoratou, Maria
Abstract	BackgroundPoor psychological functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported in several studies of healthcare workers from around the world. Factors that might predict this have yet to be established.ObjectivesFirst, to ascertain which factors were associated with poor psychological functioning in a cohort of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, to characterize key sociodemographic aspects of this cohort. Third, to determine the degree to which any predictors of poor psychological functioning were associated with each other.MethodsA questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted of 144 healthcare workers in Patras, Greece, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire consisted of: (1) demographic survey questions; (2) the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire scale; (3) the Kessler Psychological Distress scale; and (4) Toulouse’s scale for coping strategies. The data were analyzed using general linear modeling.ResultsThe statistical model (p < 10-10) indicated that smoking or taking drugs to calm anxiety, feeling ashamed, and being overwhelmed by one’s feelings were all predictors of poor psychological functioning. Conversely, income was a protective factor. A post hoc network analysis showed that smoking or taking drugs to calm anxiety was relatively strongly associated with feeling ashamed; the latter was also associated with feeling overwhelmed. There was a weak negative association between income and feeling ashamed.ConclusionThis study highlights the critical importance of psychological functioning in shaping the mental well-being of healthcare professionals during pandemics. Prioritizing the mental health of frontline workers is crucial for their well-being and for the overall functioning of healthcare systems.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC10756858&blobtype=pdf
Volume Number	11
DOI	10.52965/001c.91274
PubMed Central reference number	PMC10756858
PubMed reference number	38162540
Journal	Health Psychology Research [Health Psychol Res]
e-ISSN	24208124
Language	English
Publisher	Open Medical Publishing
Publisher Date	2023-12-28
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Health care workers psychological functioning psychological distress coping K-6 scale Toulouse’s scale for coping Covid-19 pandemic
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Psychiatry and Mental Health Clinical Psychology Social Psychology