Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis
Objective: Numerous studies have highlighted the prevalence of mental health disorders among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying indications of emotional strain. This study compares the psychological functioning of healthcare workers at the onset of the pandemic and t...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Maia Stanisławska-Kubiak Grażyna Teusz Michał Ziarko Ewa Mojs |
| author_facet | Maia Stanisławska-Kubiak Grażyna Teusz Michał Ziarko Ewa Mojs |
| author_sort | Maia Stanisławska-Kubiak |
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| description | Objective: Numerous studies have highlighted the prevalence of mental health disorders among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying indications of emotional strain. This study compares the psychological functioning of healthcare workers at the onset of the pandemic and two years later, offering a comprehensive assessment of their emotional and mental health status in the evolving context of COVID-19. Methods: This longitudinal analysis examined the relationship between stress, emotional processing, and their positive/negative impacts on medical personnel working in Polish hospitals and outpatient clinics in 2020 (<i>n</i> = 285) and 2022 (<i>n</i> = 252). The study employed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Mini-COPE, Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Emotional Processing Scale (EPS), STAI, and PANAS to assess psychological responses and coping mechanisms. Results: Findings revealed a significant increase in denial, substance use, self-blame, negative mood, and impaired psychological and somatic functioning, alongside heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety. Conversely, a marked decrease in planning, positive reinterpretation, acceptance, religious coping, and seeking social support (both emotional and instrumental) was observed over the two-year period. Conclusion: The prolonged nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the psychological resilience of healthcare professionals, eroding critical emotional resources necessary for maintaining interpersonal relationships and mental well-being. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions to support the mental health of medical staff in the ongoing crisis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba4cefdd602e4f66a0bb962c072f5f9b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba4cefdd602e4f66a0bb962c072f5f9b2024-11-26T17:55:13ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-11-011411115510.3390/brainsci14111155Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 CrisisMaia Stanisławska-Kubiak0Grażyna Teusz1Michał Ziarko2Ewa Mojs3Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, PolandFaculty of Educational Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University, 60-568 Poznan, PolandFaculty of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences (FPCS AMU), Adam Mickiewicz University, 60-568 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, PolandObjective: Numerous studies have highlighted the prevalence of mental health disorders among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying indications of emotional strain. This study compares the psychological functioning of healthcare workers at the onset of the pandemic and two years later, offering a comprehensive assessment of their emotional and mental health status in the evolving context of COVID-19. Methods: This longitudinal analysis examined the relationship between stress, emotional processing, and their positive/negative impacts on medical personnel working in Polish hospitals and outpatient clinics in 2020 (<i>n</i> = 285) and 2022 (<i>n</i> = 252). The study employed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Mini-COPE, Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Emotional Processing Scale (EPS), STAI, and PANAS to assess psychological responses and coping mechanisms. Results: Findings revealed a significant increase in denial, substance use, self-blame, negative mood, and impaired psychological and somatic functioning, alongside heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety. Conversely, a marked decrease in planning, positive reinterpretation, acceptance, religious coping, and seeking social support (both emotional and instrumental) was observed over the two-year period. Conclusion: The prolonged nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the psychological resilience of healthcare professionals, eroding critical emotional resources necessary for maintaining interpersonal relationships and mental well-being. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions to support the mental health of medical staff in the ongoing crisis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1155emotional impactstresshealthcare professionalsmental healthcoping strategies |
| spellingShingle | Maia Stanisławska-Kubiak Grażyna Teusz Michał Ziarko Ewa Mojs Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis Brain Sciences emotional impact stress healthcare professionals mental health coping strategies |
| title | Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis |
| title_full | Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis |
| title_fullStr | Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis |
| title_short | Longitudinal Insights into the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: Emotional Shifts During Two Years of the COVID-19 Crisis |
| title_sort | longitudinal insights into the mental health of healthcare workers emotional shifts during two years of the covid 19 crisis |
| topic | emotional impact stress healthcare professionals mental health coping strategies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1155 |
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