Finding the positives from the COVID-19 pandemic: factors associated with posttraumatic growth among nurses in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background Due to active involvement with patients for COVID-19 treatments, nurses are susceptible to adverse psychological outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the distress, studies have suggested that nurses are able to experience positive changes (i.e. posttraumatic growth; PTG) during the pandemic. Research on other populations has also indicated that COVID-19-specific worries and work-related coping resources are associated with people’s positive changes during the pandemic. Objective This study examined how socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related worries, and work-related variables (satisfaction with work and workplace pandemic guidelines) were associated with PTG among nurses in Hong Kong. Methods Nurses ( N = 1510) working in hospitals and community settings were recruited through nursing associations in Hong Kong between 8 August 2020 and 22 September 2020. They were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey measuring their sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 worries, and satisfaction with work and workplace pandemic-control measures. Results Results from hierarchical regressions found that those working non-full-time ( β = −0.06), affiliating with a religion ( β = 0.24), having higher COVID-19-related worries and psychological distress ( βs ranging from 0.12–0.15), and having higher work satisfaction ( β = 0.14) were associated with higher PTG ( ps < .05). Moreover, a significant interaction between psychological distress and satisfaction with workplace pandemic control guidelines emerged in explaining PTG ( β = 0.08, p < .05), such that guideline satisfaction was only associated with higher PTG among those with higher distress ( β = 0.09, p = .03), but not those with lower distress ( β = −0.05, p > .05). Conclusions Nurses in Hong Kong did report positive changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies could focus on the contributing factors of PTG to design for effective strategies to enhance resources for nurses to promote positive psychosocial outcomes.

Prediction of post-traumatic growth in the face of the COVID-19 crisis based on resilience, post-traumatic stress and social participation: A longitudinal study

“…The health crisis derived from COVID-19 has generated a substantial psychological impact, reflected in a significant prevalence of moderate levels of PTSS ( Rodríguez-Rey et al, 2020 ) and, without detracting from the severity of these harmful consequences, positive psychological changes such as PTG have also been observed (e.g., Yeung et al, 2022 ). However, studies evaluating this consequence, although increasingly prevalent, continue to be scarce and mostly cross-sectional, being unable to study whether this change is maintained longitudinally, and which COVID-19-related variables are relevant long-term predictors of PTG development.…”

“…Presenting a higher level of perceived concerns or risks derived from the COVID-19 crisis also had a positive relationship with PTG ( Hyun et al, 2021 ; Ikizer et al, 2021 ; Na et al, 2021 ; Yeung et al, 2022 ). For example, perceived risk of unfavorable economic changes ( Ikizer et al, 2021 ) or concern for physical and mental health in the wake of this crisis ( Na et al, 2021 ) was associated with higher PTG.…”

“…In Spain, in March 2020, between 15 and 41% of the population presented moderate-severe post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS; González-Sanguino et al, 2020 ; Rodríguez-Rey et al, 2020 ). Despite the adverse impact generated by this crisis, the experience of post-traumatic growth (PTG) was also reported (e.g., Yeung et al, 2022 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ), understood as the perception of positive psychological changes after going through a potentially traumatic situation ( Tedeschi and Calhoun, 2004 ). Thus, Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004) proposed that people have a series of beliefs that can be challenged by a traumatic experience, allowing their subsequent reconstruction and leading to the development of PTG.…”

Post-traumatic growth trajectories among frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A three-wave follow-up study in mainland China

“…However, aside from the negative changes, the positive effects of COVID-19 on HCWs should also be recognized and assessed ( 7 ). The need to develop psychological interventions to help physical and emotional recovery and promote post-traumatic growth (PTG) among HCWs has been highlighted ( 8 ).…”

The transformative power of pain and posttraumatic growth in nurses with Covid‐19 PCR positive

“…There are studies examining the posttraumatic growth levels of nurses during the pandemics. (R. Chen et al, 2021 ; Cui et al, 2020 ; L. Li et al, 2022 ; Nowicki et al, 2020 ; Peng et al, 2021 ; Yeung et al, 2022 ; Yıldız, 2021 ; X. T. Zhang et al, 2021 ). In this study, nurses' posttraumatic growth level was a lower result compared to other studies.…”