From secondary traumatic stress to vicarious posttraumatic growth amid COVID-19 lockdown in Greece: The role of health care workers’ coping strategies.

Abstract

Objective: Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk for suffering negative psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as secondary traumatic stress symptoms (STS), as they are exposed to this traumatic experience both directly, as community residents, and indirectly, in the care of infected patients. Following vicarious exposure, positive psychological outcomes, such as vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG), are also likely, though they are less studied. The present study aims to examine (a) the associations among STS, VPTG, and coping strategies among HCWs during the COVID-19 lockdown and (b) the mediating role of coping strategies in the STS–VPTG relationship. Method: Cross-sectional online data were collected amid the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece (March 23, 2020 through May 3, 2020) from a sample of 647 HCWs (25% men, 75% women). The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory were used to measure STS, VPTG, and coping strategies, respectively. Results: HCWs reported moderate to low levels of STS and VPTG, with the VPTG dimensions of personal strength and appreciation of life being the highest categories. Intrusions mental and both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predicted VPTG. Adaptive coping strategies partially mediated the relationship between STS and VPTG, whereas maladaptive coping strategies fully mediated this relationship. Conclusions: Understanding the coping responses during lockdown among HCWs is important for developing tailored prevention and intervention actions to protect the populations at risk from the deleterious impacts of uncontrollable and life-threatening diseases and promote posttraumatic growth.

Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce

“…In comparison with this present study, Cansiz et al [61] reported higher use of negative strategies, such as self-blame, substance use, emotional support and behavioural disengagement, but also higher use of planning and emotional support strategies. Studies from Canestrari et al [62] in Italy and Vera-Monge et al [63] in Spain reported lower scores for the usage of positive approach strategies and negative avoidant strategies, while a study involving Greek healthcare professionals reported higher scores for the usage of positive approach strategies and lower usage of avoidant strategies than this present study [64].…”

“…Amongst respondents in Phase 3 of this present study there was widespread recognition that pandemic-related work responsibilities had affected respondents' quality of home life, with working from home not enabling a break from work for many of this workforce and it was noted that an emphasis should be placed on re/creating a more healthy work-life balance [68]. Overall, evidence suggests that the use of positive coping strategies are essential in reducing stressors, improving wellbeing and work-related quality of life which can then reduce burnout [64,[69][70][71].…”

Secondary traumatic stress and dissociative coping strategies in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: The protective role of resilience

“…Researchers have proposed different clusters, such as problem-focused vs. emotion-focused ( Lazarus & Folkman, 1984 ), adaptive vs. maladaptive ( Meyer, 2001 ). Zuckerman and Gagne (2003) and Kalaitzaki et al (2021) have suggested that coping responses should not be a priori defined as adaptive or maladaptive, since context is significant in attributing the meaning of adaptiveness. What seems to be consistent in the relevant literature are the specific coping strategies that are most frequently used.…”

Exploring Nurses’ Working Experiences during the First Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak

“…In Greece, research evidence about the COVID-19 outbreak, has been mainly focused on investigating the mental health and the psychological impact of healthcare professionals and the general population, as well as the socio-economic effects and the health system responses to the pandemic crisis [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Data regarding nurses’ experience from the first wave of the pandemic is lacking as research in this specific area seems to be rather limited in Greece.…”