Sense of coherence, engagement, and work environment as precursors of psychological distress among non-health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Abstract

Background The interrelationship between the sense of coherence, work environment, work engagement, and psychological distress have particular interest in non-health workers who carried out essential activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective To assess the effects of the COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of non-health workers. Design Observational descriptive cross-sectional study. Data sources 1089 questionnaires have been analysed. Engagement (UWES-9), sense of coherence (SOC-13), mental health (Goldberg GHQ-12), demographic data, perception of health and stress and work environment were assessed. Results At low levels of engagement, the percentage of distress is higher (77.9%). Low levels of sense of coherence correspond to the highest percentages of distress (86.3%). The 94.1% believe it necessary for professionals and volunteers involved in COVID-19 to receive psychological support. Low comprehensibility is mediated by the perception of stress; if the perception is low, comprehensibility is modulated by the level of significance; if it is low, it generates 95.9% of distress. Conclusion The interrelationship between the sense of coherence, work environment, work engagement, and psychological distress have particular interest in non-health workers who carried out essential activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost all respondents believed that professionals and volunteers involved in COVID-19 should receive psychological support. This may be an indicator of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers’ mental health.

COVID-19 Anxiety—A Longitudinal Survey Study of Psychological and Situational Risks among Finnish Workers

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Hope and Resilience During a Pandemic Among Three Cultural Groups in Israel: The Second Wave of Covid-19

“…The salutogenic model suggests that an individual with a strong SOC is less likely than one with a weak SOC to perceive many stressful situations as threatening and, therefore, anxiety-provoking. Given their tendency to perceive the world as meaningful and manageable, individuals with a strong SOC will be less likely to feel threatened by stressful events, including a pandemic, and, therefore, will be less vulnerable to developing psychological distress in such a situation (Gómez-Salgado et al, 2020 ; Ruiz-Frutos et al, 2020 ; Schäfer et al, 2020 ).…”

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“…Esta asociación también es vista en los trabajadores no sanitarios, a lo que hay que sumar el efecto del engagement laboral, entendido como un estado de salud mental positivo y satisfactorio relacionado con el trabajo. Niveles bajos de SOC y de engagement laboral, han demostrado ser factores protectores ante la presencia de distrés, ayudando en el afrontamiento de esta complicada situación (16) . Entre las variables que predicen el distrés psicológico en los trabajadores no sanitarios encontramos ser mujer, tener una vivienda interior, una mala percepción de salud durante los últimos 14 días, el número de síntomas, haber estado en contacto con personas o material contaminado y ser trabajador autónomo (12) .…”