Hopelessness and burnout in Italian healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of trait emotional intelligence

Epifanio, Maria Stella; Grutta, Sabina La; Piombo, Marco Andrea; Riolo, Martina; Spicuzza, Vittoria; Franco, Marianna; Mancini, Giacomo; Pascalis, Leonardo De; Trombini, Elena; Andrei, Federica

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1146408

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…Depending on the tool and assessment criteria used, as well as the variables taken into account, such as occupation, high risk or burnout can affect from 12.0% [51] to 61.7% of healthcare workers [18,21,[52][53][54][55][56]. In terms of burnout symptoms, medics primarily experience a psychophysical exhaustion at work, a deterioration in relations with the patient, and a lack of effectiveness, consistent with a study carried out in Italy [57]. Other studies also indicate that the most frequently experienced symptom of burnout is exhaustion [33]; yet, in the study conducted in 2018 among Polish nurses, the lack of involvement in relations with the patients showed the greatest increase, among burnout symptoms, while disappointment rated the lowest [58].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Many studies show the co-occurrence of burnout and depression [2,20,21,53,66], symptoms of anxiety [61], and even PTSD [66]. In addition, it is estimated that between 5% and 10% of medics experience suicidal thoughts [2,67], and the prevalence of suicide among medics is higher than among the general population [67], especially among nurses [2,57,67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stress, Burnout, and General Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Poland during the Long-Lasting COVID-19 Pandemic

Budzyńska,

Moryś

2023

Healthcare

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Medical professions are characterized by a great responsibility for human health and life; they are also vulnerable to burnout. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and threats. This study aimed to assess the mental health of healthcare workers after a year and a half of working in COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were utilized in this cross-sectional investigation. A total of 335 healthcare employees from Polish hospitals (median age 44 years) filled out online questionnaires between the 16 August 2021 and the 30 March 2022. Most of the sample was female (86%). In this study, 40.0% of the surveyed healthcare workers reported a high stress intensity. Burnout was reported by 9.6% of the workers, and the most frequently experienced symptom was psychophysical exhaustion. Almost half of the healthcare workers surveyed (49.6%) reported health disorders at both the mental and physiological levels. Interestingly, working in a COVID-19 ward did not significantly differentiate healthcare workers in any of the evaluated variables: PSS-10 (gr. A F = 1.21; gr. B F = 0.71; p > 0.05), LBQ (gr. A F = 1.89, F = 0.94, F = 1.08, F = 2.57; gr. B F = 0.32, F = 1.14, F = 0.77, F = 0.36; p > 0.05), and GHQ-28 (gr. A F = 0.85, F = 0.52, F = 0.57, F = 0.31; gr. B F = 0.31, F = 0.06, F = 0.06, F = 0.54; p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the compared occupational groups of healthcare workers: PSS-10 (F = 1.08; p > 0.05) and GHQ-28 (F = 1.78; F = 0.85; F = 0.62; F = 0.54; p > 0.05). The mental health of healthcare workers is alarming, and psychophysical conditions can affect the quality of work and relations with patients. Psychological care in workplaces and workshops that build resources for dealing with difficult situations are necessary.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress, Burnout, and General Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Poland during the Long-Lasting COVID-19 Pandemic

Budzyńska,

Moryś

2023

Healthcare

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“…They hypothesized burnout was an important risk factor for the development of hopelessness which has been associated with other psychological conditions such as depression and suicide. The study reported a significant positive correlation between hopelessness in each burnout dimension ( 4 ). During the pandemic, high stress levels in physicians (30%) were reported by Linzer et al in the USA ( 5 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians in Puerto Rico: a cross-sectional study after the second wave in 2021

Sanchez-Plazas,

García-De Jesus,

Martinez-Gonzalez

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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IntroductionHealth care providers faced a challenge with the emergence of COVID-19 and its rapid spread. Early studies measuring the psychological impact of COVID-19 on the general population found high levels of anxiety and sleep disorders. The primary goal of this project was to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 on physicians in Puerto Rico.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study of physicians in Puerto Rico was conducted anonymously and electronically from February 2021 through April 2021. The electronic survey included socio-demographic data and 4 self-administered assessment tools (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and COVID-19 Organizational Support) for anxiety, perceived stress, sleep disturbances, and organizational support during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsA total of 145 physicians completed the survey, with a female predominance of 53.5% and a majority practicing in the San Juan metropolitan area (50.3%). Mild anxiety symptoms were reported in 26.9% of physicians, and 33.8% had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Moderate to high perceived stress was found in 69.9% of participants, and women reported statistically significantly higher levels of anxiety symptoms (8.84 ± 5.99; p = 0.037) and stress (19.0 ± 6.94, p = 0.001). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index reported 67.9% of physicians with global scores associated with poor sleep quality. Assessment of perceived organizational support found a high perception of work support (65.7%) but low perception of personal support (43.4%) and risk support (30.3%). A correlation analysis found a negative correlation for work and personal support, but a positive correlation for risk support, all statistically significant.ConclusionCOVID-19 had a lasting psychological impact in health care providers in Puerto Rico a year after the beginning of the pandemic. Our data supports the importance of organizational support and its correlation with the development of anxiety. It is thus essential to develop strategies to identify individuals at risk of experiencing psychological disturbances and to provide effective support for medical professionals during medical emergencies for their well-being and optimal delivery of patient care.

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“…High EI also predicts better academic performance [ 4 , 16 , 17 ] and is associated with lower stress and anxiety levels [ 18 – 20 ]. Some evidence also indicates that EI could protect against burnout [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional intelligence among medical students in Sweden – a questionnaire study

Bitar,

Amnelius,

Kristoffersson

et al. 2023

BMC Med Educ

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Background Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to understand and regulate one’s and other’s emotions, has been linked to academic and clinical performance and stress management, making it an essential skill to develop during medical school. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains about the impact of medical education on EI, its association with sociodemographic factors, and the potential moderating role of gender. Therefore, this study aimed to explore levels of global EI among Swedish medical students based on their completed semesters while analyzing the potential moderator role of gender and identifying potential EI differences associated with age, gender, prior education, work experience, and previous experience working in a leadership position. Methods The participants were medical students in semesters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 at a Swedish University. Participants answered the self-report Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire - Short Form (TEIQue-SF) and demographic questions. For each participant, the mean global trait EI was calculated (range 1–7), and differences were compared based on semesters and sociodemographic factors. In addition, we investigated the relationship between semester and EI scores with gender as a moderator. Results Of the 663 invited medical students, 429 (65%) responded, including 269 women (62.7%), 157 men (36.6%), and 3 identifying as others (0.7%). The participants had a mean global trait EI score of 5.33. Final-year students demonstrated significantly higher global trait EI scores than first-year students, and gender did not have a moderating effect across semesters. Furthermore, students in the age group 25–29 years showed higher EI scores compared to those in the age group 21–24 years, while there were no significant differences in EI scores for older students (≥ 30 years) compared to other age groups. Higher EI scores were also positively associated with previous work-and leadership experiences. Gender and previous education did not significantly impact EI scores. Conclusions Our findings suggest that higher EI scores are associated with semesters of medical education, age, and previous work and leadership experience. Future longitudinal studies are needed to identify factors that could improve EI among medical students to design curricular activities aimed at supporting the EI of the next generation of physicians.

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Hopelessness and burnout in Italian healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of trait emotional intelligence

Cited by 6 publications

References 102 publications

Stress, Burnout, and General Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Poland during the Long-Lasting COVID-19 Pandemic

Stress, Burnout, and General Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Poland during the Long-Lasting COVID-19 Pandemic

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians in Puerto Rico: a cross-sectional study after the second wave in 2021

Emotional intelligence among medical students in Sweden – a questionnaire study

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