IntroductionDehumanization is defined as the denial to people of their humanness. It is distinguished into animalistic and mechanistic dehumanization. The aim of this study is to examine whether professionals in a public hospital dehumanize the patient and self-dehumanize. MethodsWe used the Dehumanization Questionnaire, the Mechanistic Self-Dehumanization Scale, the Human Nature and Human Uniqueness Characteristics Questionnaire, the General Causality Orientation Scale and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 135 mental health professionals (20 from a general hospital and 115 from a psychiatric hospital), 134 other health professionals from the general hospital and 84 people from the general population. ResultsHealth professionals dehumanize the hospitalized patient more than the general population. The secure attachment acts protectively on self-dehumanization and negatively on the dehumanization of the hospitalized patient. Finally, autonomous people are not self-dehumanized. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that measures should be taken for health professionals so that they do not dehumanize the patient.
Introduction and objectivesCoronavirus disease 2019 has affected the quality of life of both general population and the healthcare workers and has increased the psychopathology levels. The objective of this research was to study the personality traits and the quality of life of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to organize and apply interventions for the well-being of the staff. Materials and methodsThe study sample consisted of 400 healthcare workers, in Thoracic Diseases General Hospital "Sotiria". Participants were asked to provide sociodemographic information and to complete: (1) the WHOQOL-BREF, (2) the NEO-FFI. The questionnaire was administered in person to the hospital staff. The data were collected between May and July 2021, in Athens, Greece. ResultsYounger healthcare professionals had a better quality of life and with regard to gender differences, males reported higher scores of physical and psychological health compared to females. Also regarding personality traits, neuroticism and extroversion have a statistically significant effect on the quality of life. In contrast, education level, work area and specialty did not appear to affect the quality of life of hospital staff. ConclusionsFrom our research findings, it appears that quality of life has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions are needed to apply mindfulness, increase well-being and form groups with the hospital staff in order to share their experiences.
IntroductionDehumanization is the phenomenon that concerns the non-attribution of humanness to other human beings and has two dimensions, animalistic and mechanistic. The aim of the present study is to study dehumanization and self-dehumanization in patients with psychosis and organic disease. MethodsThe sample consisted of 200 people who were hospitalized in Athens, Greece, in 2017. Participants were asked to answer the dehumanization questionnaire, the mechanistic self-dehumanization scale, the human nature and human uniqueness characteristics questionnaire, and the adult attachment questionnaire. ResultsIt was found that patients with organic disease and patients with psychosis do not perform mechanistic and animalistic dehumanization of themselves. Still, it seems that insecure attachment (anxiety and obsession) contributes positively to their mechanistic dehumanization and negatively to their mechanistic selfdehumanization. From the insecure attachment, only the dimensions of stress and obsession affect the mechanistic dehumanization. ConclusionsIt is important to take measures to train specialists in the hospital so that they can establish a safe therapeutic relationship with the patient so that patients will not resort to dehumanization and selfdehumanization as a defense against the stress of hospitalization.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the quality of life of both the general population and health professionals and has increased the levels of psychopathology among them. The present study aims to map the levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological resilience, and quality of life of healthcare professionals who work in a COVID-19 reference hospital in Athens, Greece, one year after the onset of the pandemic. Also, this study focuses on investigating the relationships among the study variables and demographics and examining possible mediating effects. MethodsThe sample consisted of 400 health professionals from Sotiria Hospital, of whom 102 were men. Participants were asked to complete the Post-Traumatic Stress Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire. The survey was conducted from May to July 2021. ResultsThe findings show statistical differences in resilience levels regarding marital status and employee education. Also, 13.5% of the staff reported significant PTSD levels, which relate to low levels of psychological resilience and every pillar of quality of life. ConclusionsThus, research findings indicate that resilience levels could have a protective effect on the development of PTSD symptoms. Therefore, the design of group interventions that aim at building health workers' resilience will be discussed.
Background: The concept of dehumanization keeps pace with human history and means the denial of humanness to another human being. Purpose: The aim of this review is to study the literature in the field of mental health to investigate the existence of dehumanization. Method: A literature review was conducted from 2002 to 2022 using keywords in Google scholar, Pubmed, PsycInfo and Scopus Databases. Results: It seems that there are some mental disorders that have dehumanizing characteristics. Also the way the diagnostic manuals of mental disorders are used (DSM-5), the communication between specialist-patient, the labels and the stigma of the mental illness, the biogenetic explanations of the mental disorders and the characteristics of the psychiatric clinics. Conclusion: The literature review shows that patients with mental disorders experience dehumanization and therefore measures should be taken to prevent and limit the phenomenon.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.