Mental well-being and quality of working life in UK social workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A propensity score matching study

McFadden, Paula; Neill, Ruth D.; Mallett, John; Manthorpe, Jill; Gillen, Patricia; Moriarty, John; Currie, Denise; Schröder, Heike; Ravalier, Jermaine; Nicholl, Patricia; Ross, Jana

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcab198

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…Engaging in the negative, more avoidant coping strategies was also found in our earlier study phases [32][33][34] and within the literature, with the usage of these strategies being found to have a negative relationship and impact on mental wellbeing and resulting in increased burnout within the HSC workforce [50,60,62,63,[65][66][67]. Amongst respondents in Phase 3 of this present study there was widespread recognition that pandemic-related work responsibilities had affected respondents' quality of home life, with working from home not enabling a break from work for many of this workforce and it was noted that an emphasis should be placed on re/creating a more healthy work-life balance [68].…”

Section: Main Messages In Comparison With the Literaturesupporting

confidence: 82%

“…The results of Phase 3 of this study will be used to expand on recommendations from earlier phases that could be used to inform policies and procedures for HSC employers to help counteract the adverse long-term effects the pandemic on mental wellbeing and work-related quality of life. Other papers linked to the wider study have explored the findings of the earlier phases [32,33], social care and social workers [34] and the 'clapping for carers' initiative [35].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce

et al. 2022

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Many health and social care (HSC) professionals have faced overwhelming pressures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As the current situation is constantly changing, and some restrictions across the UK countries such as social distancing and mask wearing in this period (May–July 2021) began to ease, it is important to examine how this workforce has been affected and how employers can help rebuild their services. The aim of this study was to compare cross-sectional data collected from the HSC workforce in the UK at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic: Phase 1 (May–July 2020), Phase 2 (November 2020–January 2021) and Phase 3 (May–July 2021). Respondents surveyed across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) consisted of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, social care workers and social workers. Wellbeing and work-related quality of life significantly declined from Phase 1 to 3 (p < 0.001); however, no significant difference occurred between Phases 2 and 3 (p > 0.05). Respondents increasingly used negative coping strategies between Phase 1 (May–July 2020) and Phase 3 (May–July 2021), suggesting that the HSC workforce has been negatively impacted by the pandemic. These results have the potential to inform HSC employers’ policies, practices, and interventions as the workforce continues to respond to the COVID-19 virus and its legacy.

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Section: Main Messages In Comparison With the Literaturesupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce

et al. 2022

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“…Direct comparison with results presented in this article is not possible because of different instruments used to measure PMH. Some studies, limited to specific population groups, such as social workers in McFadden et al or older adults in Hansen et al found mental well-being increased or remained stable relative to before pandemic (19,20). The maintained or improved level of PMH is attributed to population-specific factors that are not pervasive in the general population, and to the phase of the pandemic during which research took place, highlighting the accumulation and intensification of negative psychosocial experiences that results in deterioration of PMH in later stages of the pandemic (18,19).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive mental health in Slovenia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Vinko

Mikolič

Roškar

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundMental health has been heavily affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study we compared the prevalence of flourishing and languishing mental health during the pandemic and examined which factors are associated with either category of positive mental health respectively.MethodsData from two cross-sectional surveys with nationally representative samples of adult population in Slovenia conducted in 2019 (n = 9,047) and in 2021 (n = 3,429) are used. Positive mental health was measured with Mental Health Continuum–Short Form instrument. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between flourishing and languishing mental health and relevant COVID-19 specific and other health-related factors.ResultsThere was a substantial decrease in the prevalence of flourishing and an increase in the prevalence of languishing mental health during the pandemic. Distribution of both flourishing and languishing mental health followed the socio-economic gradient. Resilience, COVID-19 literacy and changes in family relations, social interactions, and dietary habits were associated with both flourishing and languishing mental health.ConclusionPositive mental health of the population worsened during the pandemic, more so in traditionally disadvantaged populations. Public health efforts need to be focused appropriately with an increased emphasis on strengthening resilience and health literacy.

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“…This paper reports the findings of a study to examine the mental wellbeing, coping strategies, burnout and quality of working life of nurses, midwives and AHPs working throughout the UK at two separate time points during the COVID-19 pandemic (May–July 2020) and (November 2020–February 2021). Other papers have reported overall results [ 27 ] and findings specifically related to social care workers [ 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wellbeing and coping of UK nurses, midwives and allied health professionals during COVID-19-a cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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Nurse, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), along with other health and social care colleagues are the backbone of healthcare services. They have played a key role in responding to the increased demands on healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper compares cross-sectional data on quality of working life, wellbeing, coping and burnout of nurses, midwives and AHPs in the United Kingdom (UK) at two time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous online repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted at two timepoints, Phase 1 (7th May 2020-3rd July 2020); Phase 2 (17th November 2020-1st February 2021). The survey consisted of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale, and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (Phase 2 only) to measure wellbeing, quality of working life and burnout. The Brief COPE scale and Strategies for Coping with Work and Family Stressors scale assessed coping strategies. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions examined the effects of coping strategies and demographic and work-related variables on wellbeing and quality of working life. A total of 1839 nurses, midwives and AHPs responded to the first or second survey, with a final sample of 1410 respondents -586 from Phase 1; 824 from Phase 2, (422 nurses, 192 midwives and 796 AHPs). Wellbeing and quality of working life scores were significantly lower in the Phase 2 sample compared to respondents in Phase 1 (p<0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on psychological wellbeing and quality of working life which decreased while the use of negative coping and burnout of these healthcare professionals increased. Health services are now trying to respond to the needs of patients with COVID-19 variants while rebuilding services and tackling the backlog of normal care provision. This workforce would benefit from additional support/services to prevent further deterioration in mental health and wellbeing and optimise workforce retention.

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Mental well-being and quality of working life in UK social workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A propensity score matching study

Cited by 21 publications

References 52 publications

Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce

Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce

Positive mental health in Slovenia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wellbeing and coping of UK nurses, midwives and allied health professionals during COVID-19-a cross-sectional study

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