Association of fear of COVID-19 and resilience with psychological distress among health care workers in hospitals responding to COVID-19: analysis of a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundIt remains unclear how fear of COVID-19 and resilience are related to psychological distress based on occupations among healthcare workers (HCWs) in hospitals treating patients with COVID-19. We conducted a survey on the mental health of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the relationship between factors such as fear of COVID-19 and resilience as well as mental distress in each occupation of HCWs.MethodsWe conducted a web-based survey among HCWs at seven hospitals treating COVID-19 patients in Japan from December 24, 2020 to March 31, 2021. A total of 634 participants were analyzed, and information regarding their socio-demographic characteristics and employment status was collected. Several psychometric measures were used, including the Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale (K6), the fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the Resilience Scale (RS14). Factors related to psychological distress were identified by logistic regression analysis. The association between job title and psychological scales was examined by one-way ANOVA, and t-tests were conducted to examine the association between the FCV-19S and hospital initiatives.ResultsIt was found that nurses and clerical workers were associated with psychological distress without considering FCV-19S or RS14; in a model that included FCV-19S, FCV-19S was associated with psychological distress, but job title was not; when RS14 was considered, resilience was protective. In terms of occupation, FCV-19S was lower among physicians and higher among nurses and clerical workers, while RS14 was higher among physicians and lower among other occupations. Having access to in-hospital consultation regarding infection control as well as to psychological and emotional support was associated with lower FCV-19S.ConclusionBased on our findings, we can conclude that the level of mental distress differed by occupation and the differences in the fear of COVID-19 and resilience were important factors. In order to provide mental healthcare for HCWs during a pandemic, it is important to create consultation services that enable employees to discuss their concerns. In addition, it is important to take steps to strengthen the resilience of HCWs in preparation for future disasters.

Prevalence and associated factors of work impairment among geriatricians during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan

“…Regarding psychological distress, the prevalence reported in this study, 15.2%, appears to be lower than that reported in previous studies carried out during the COVID‐19 pandemic, although a direct comparison is difficult because of the differences in the study design, target population and assessment methods 1–3 . The analytic sample in the present study was limited to doctors; however, doctors might be less susceptible to psychological distress than other healthcare workers 29–31 . In addition, the doctors in this study were not necessarily involved in the direct care of COVID‐19 patients; this might have made the prevalence of psychological distress lower, because directly engaging in COVID‐19 care has been associated with a higher prevalence of depression among healthcare workers 3 .…”

“…Generalization to doctors in other specialties or other healthcare occupations should be done with caution and attention to the differences in occupational characteristics. Previous studies in Japan reported that doctors have a low fear of COVID‐19 and higher resilience than other healthcare professionals 30,31 . Finally, as the study was observational in nature, the findings might be confounded by unobserved or unmeasured variables.…”

Postpandemic fear of COVID‐19, psychological distress, and resilient coping among frontline health workers in Ghana: An analytical cross‐sectional study

“…The relationship between fear and psychological distress, particularly in the context of COVID‐19, has indeed been extensively studied. 31 , 33 , 34 Research has consistently shown that fear is a significant precursor for psychological distress, and this association has been observed in various populations, including healthcare workers. For instance, Ghozy et al in their cross‐sectional analyses from 14 countries reported that healthcare workers who experienced higher levels of fear related to COVID‐19 also exhibited higher levels of psychological distress.…”

“…The relationship between fear and psychological distress, particularly in the context of COVID‐19, has indeed been extensively studied 31,33,34 . Research has consistently shown that fear is a significant precursor for psychological distress, and this association has been observed in various populations, including healthcare workers.…”

Physician resilience and perceived quality of care among medical doctors with training in psychosomatic medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: a quantitative and qualitative analysis

“…Consequently, building psychological resilience emerged as an essential focus in response to these challenges, as it may serve as a protective factor against the risk of developing burnout and its negative consequences on individuals and the health care system [ 14 , 16 ]. Higher personal resilience was found to be associated with lower stress levels and lower levels of anxiety, COVID-19 related fear, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 17 – 19 ]. Besides the well-known positive effects of resilience on physicians’ well-being, there is some evidence suggesting that it could also protect against detrimental effects of a health care crisis by maintaining a high level of health care quality.…”