Perceived organizational support and PTSD symptoms of frontline healthcare workers in the outbreak of COVID‐19 in Wuhan: The mediating effects of self‐efficacy and coping strategies

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effect of perceived organizational support on the PTSD symptoms of frontline healthcare workers, and to examine the mediating effects of coping self-efficacy and coping strategies in this relationship. A short-term longitudinal study design was used to conduct two waves of online surveys in March and April 2020. Participants comprised 107 medical staff in both waves of investigation. Self-efficacy, coping strategies, and perceived organizational support were reported at Wave 1, and PTSD symptoms were reported at Wave 2. Results indicated that (1) The prevalence of probable PTSD was 9.3% and 4.7% on the Chinese version of the Impact of Events Scale-Revised of 33 and 35, respectively.Local healthcare workers had greater risks of PTSD than the members of medical rescue teams. Doctors reported higher PTSD symptoms than nurses. (2) Perceived organizational support had a significant indirect effect on PTSD symptoms through the mediation of problem-focused coping strategies and the sequential mediating effect of coping self-efficacy and problem-focused coping strategies. The findings highlight the importance of providing adequate organizational support to reduce PTSD symptoms in frontline medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Does the Assessment of Work Organization during the COVID-19 Pandemic Relate to Changes in the Well-Being of Health System Workers?

“…During this pandemic, health system workers survived uncertainty, experienced confusion and fluster in work order, and intense changes in work function, responsibilities, and workload. During these changes in the organizations there was a lack of balance, structure, and clarity; accordingly, health care workers encountered big challenges, including conditions of increased stress and a burnout syndrome [3][4][5]. Meanwhile, clear solutions and the systematic management of health threats positively affected employee functioning in the work environment.…”

“…Meanwhile, clear solutions and the systematic management of health threats positively affected employee functioning in the work environment. The action plan and organization support are indicated as the main components of sustainability [2][3][4]. In response to the avalanche of change, emergency management and active leadership are considered significant aids, and the protection of the physical and mental health of workers is singled out as a priority: health care specialists want to be sure that their organization will support them and their families both medically and socially [2].…”

“…Researchers have referred to the significant role of the organization for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic: support of the organization, caring for its employees, and promoting information, leadership, and mutual assistance have been singled out as organizational factors that help the pandemic challenges to be overcome [2][3][4].…”

“…However, there are important protective components for psychological well-being during a pandemic. These include, but are not limited to, organizational support and appropriate training [3]. Organizational support plays a significant role in protecting the psychological and physical health of healthcare workers [3].…”

“…These include, but are not limited to, organizational support and appropriate training [3]. Organizational support plays a significant role in protecting the psychological and physical health of healthcare workers [3]. Perceived organizational support is defined as the employee's perception that the organization cares about his or her well-being in a physical and psychological sense and is concerned with the employee's commitment to work and the organization [11,12].…”