The Moderating Role of Existential Thinking in the Association between Health Anxiety and Nurse Empathy with Covid-19 Patients

Abstract

Background: Nurses' direct exposure to COVID-19 patients and resulting health anxiety can threaten their performance of human and moral duties. Materials and Methods: This work was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population was all nurses working in the intensive care unit of COVID-19 patients in Ardabil hospitals in the 2021 year, from which 150 people were selected by convenient sampling. Data were collected using the Health Anxiety Inventory, Scale for Existential Thinking, and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy. Results: The Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the association between empathy and health anxiety was negative and significant (r = -0.47, P <0.001), and that between empathy and existential thinking was positive and significant (r = 0.31, P <0.001). Also, the correlation coefficients between health anxiety and existential thinking showed a negative and significant association between the two variables (r = -0.28, P <0.001). In addition, the moderated hierarchical regression analysis showed that the interactive effect of health anxiety and existential thinking on nurses' empathy with patients with COVID-19 was 29%. Conclusion: According to the finding of this study, strengthening the spiritual attitude and existential thinking among the nurses of the COVID-19 ward was necessary to reduce health anxiety and its negative effects on the empathetic comunication with patients.

Self‐care behavior prevention of COVID‐19 in the general population based on Pender Health Promotion Model: A cross‐sectional study

“… 4 After the announcement of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the virus control approach in all countries was seriously included in the agenda of governments and international health officials. 5 , 6 …”

“…In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement declaring the novel coronavirus to be the sixth leading cause of public health emergency worldwide 4 . After the announcement of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the virus control approach in all countries was seriously included in the agenda of governments and international health officials 5,6 …”

“…4 After the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus control approach in all countries was seriously included in the agenda of governments and international health officials. 5,6 Adherence to self-care behaviors and hygiene protocols (including the use of face masks and gloves, social distancing, avoidance of unnecessary travel, and hand washing with soap and water) was critical to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has also confirmed the need to follow health tips and the importance of self-care in reducing the risk of COVID-19.…”

Investigating the mediating influence of distress tolerance on the relationship between existential thinking, sense of coherence, and the severity of mourning among families who lost a loved one to COVID‐19: A cross‐sectional study

“…The present study is in accordance with previous research that examines the direct and indirect impacts of existential thinking on the severity of mourning experienced by families of those who have passed away from Covid-19. Studies (Brassai et al, 13 Dargahi et al, 14 and Mason et al) 15 have demonstrated that an existential mindset can promote beneficial behaviors, such as improving distress…”

“…12 Furthermore, the existential attitude can stimulate healthy behaviors by encouraging individuals to search for the meaning of life and suffering. 13 Studies have also demonstrated that existential thinking plays a mediating role in the relationship between death anxiety and empathy with COVID-19 patients 14 and can enhance the quality of working life for those involved in caring for dying patients. 15 The lifestyle changes and intense grieving experienced by individuals who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19 have led to an increase in mental health-related problems among the family members of the deceased, which is a cause for concern.…”