Self-efficacy and fatigue among non-frontline health care workers during COVID-19 outbreak: A moderated mediation model of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and negative coping

Abstract

Purposes Since a considerable number of health care workers (HCWs) were sent to Wuhan to aid COVID-19 control during the epidemic, non-frontline HCWs who stayed in local hospitals had to work overload to provide daily health care services for other health issues, which makes them more vulnerable to experience fatigue. Self-efficacy is suggested as a protective factor for fatigue. Nonetheless, less is known regarding the underlying mechanisms. This research aimed to explore the prevalence of fatigue among non-frontline HCWs during the pandemic, investigate the mediating effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and moderating effect of negative coping in the association between self-efficacy and fatigue. Methods General Self-Efficacy Scale, PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and 14-item Fatigue Scale were administrated to 527 non-frontline HCWs from Anhui Province, China. The mediating effect was examined by Mackinnon’s four-step procedure, while Hayes PROCESS macro was used to test the moderated mediation model. Results The prevalence of fatigue among non-frontline HCWs was 56.7%. The effect of self-efficacy on fatigue was partially mediated by PTSD symptoms (ab = -0.146, SE = 0.030, 95% CI = [-0.207, -0.095]). Additionally, negative coping moderated both the direct effect of self-efficacy on fatigue (β = -0.158, P<0.001) and the mediating effect of PTSD symptoms (β = 0.077, P = 0.008). When the standard score of negative coping increased to 1.49 and over, the direct association between self-efficacy and fatigue became insignificant. Likewise, the effect of self-efficacy on PTSD symptoms had no statistical significance when the standard score of negative coping was -1.40 and lower. Conclusions More than half non-frontline HCWs suffered from fatigue during COVID-19. For those who tend to use negative coping, it might be crucial to design programs combining the enhancement of self-efficacy, preventions for PTSD symptoms and interventions for fatigue.

Depressive symptoms among frontline and non-frontline healthcare providers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kelantan, Malaysia: A cross sectional study

“…Burnt out, one of the impacts of this situation may lead to psychological disorders with more prolonged exposure. This finding was supported by a study in Shanghai [ 26 ]. The researchers suggested that after a considerable number of healthcare workers were deployed to Wuhan to control the initial COVID-19 outbreak, non-frontline healthcare providers experienced more fatigue due to the higher workload required compared to the daily healthcare services they generally provided for other health issues.…”

Lockdown fatigue among college students during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Predictive role of personal resilience, coping behaviors, and health

“…Previous studies involving college students have also identified problem‐focused coping behaviors, including seeking social support, and problem‐solving behaviors as equally vital to increase their adaptability and hardiness against stressful events 50,51 . Further, adequate coping skills have been found to minimize the mental and psychological consequences of traumatic events, emergency and disaster events, and disease outbreaks 22,29,52 . Higher levels of coping skills were found to contribute to a significant reduction in psychological issues (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) related to the COVID‐19 pandemic among college students in China, 53 the USA, 54 and Switzerland 34 .…”

Predictors of Psychosomatic Health during the first COVID-19 Outbreak in Greece. A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis in an Epidemiological Sample of 1,156 Individuals

“…[56,57] Various studies also highlight that stressrelated symptoms that may be included in the diagnostic criteria for PTSD are strongly related to somatic symptoms in the COVID-19 era. [58][59][60] On the other hand, the second most significant predictor in the model of this study was found to be the level of PR, which worked as a protective factor for psychosomatic health. In Greece, little evidence supported the link between psychosomatic health and resilience before the COVID-19 outbreak.…”