Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a traumatic event that has profoundly changed working conditions with detrimental consequences for workers’ health, in particular for the healthcare population directly involved in addressing the emergency. Nevertheless, previous research has demonstrated that traumatic experiences can also lead to positive reactions, stimulating resilience and feelings of growth. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the positive aspects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the possible health prevention and promotion strategies by analyzing the available scientific evidence. In particular, we focus on the constructs of resilience, coping strategies and posttraumatic growth (PTG). A literature search was performed on the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Psycinfo databases. Forty-six articles were included in the literature synthesis. Psychological resilience is a fundamental variable for reducing and preventing the negative psychological effects of the pandemic and is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety and burnout. At the individual and organizational level, resilience plays a crucial role in enhancing wellbeing in healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Connected to resilience, adaptive coping strategies are essential for managing the emergency and work-related stress. Several positive factors influencing resilience have been highlighted in the development of PTG. At the same time, high levels of resilience and positive coping strategies can enhance personal growth. Considering the possible long-term coexistence and consequences of COVID-19, organizational interventions should aim to improve workers’ adaptive coping skills, resilience and PTG in order to promote wellbeing.

Identifying Psychosocial Risks and Protective Measures for Workers’ Mental Wellbeing at the Time of COVID-19: A Narrative Review

“…The main support for workers within their organizations often comes from colleagues and managers [72]. Peer support at work strengthens psychological resilience by enhancing coping skills and the development of post-traumatic growth, factors which can protect workers involved in stressful situations [73,74]. In our review peer and organizational support during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with post-traumatic disorder symptoms, anxiety and depression, occupational stress, job satisfaction, burnout, uncertainty at work, emotional exhaustion, moral injury, and sleep disturbances.…”

Post-Traumatic Growth during COVID-19: The Role of Perceived Social Support, Personality, and Coping Strategies

“…Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, its adverse consequences on mental health have been increasingly elaborated on [ 1 , 2 ]. Although research has also recently started paying attention to positive aspects of pandemic experiences [ 3 ], still little is known about the pandemic’s potential positive psychological outcomes and to what extent and how this may trigger post-traumatic growth (PTG) [ 4 ]. The current study aims to fill these research gaps.…”

“…Many studies have focused on people with cancer [ 12 ], HIV [ 13 ], and those who have experienced natural disasters [ 14 ]. Thus, it is not surprising that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, PTG-related studies focused primarily on the healthcare population, which is a high-risk population [ 3 , 15 , 16 ]. However, the reactions associated with the current pandemic situation may not be limited to the diagnosis of serious illnesses, but are also a by-product of our ongoing awareness of our vulnerability to infection and the multiple medical, psychological, and social consequences of the disease [ 4 , 17 ].…”

To Work or Not to Work, That Is the Question: The Psychological Impact of the First COVID-19 Lockdown on the Elderly, Healthcare Workers, and Virtual Workers

“…These data appear even more worrisome if we consider the importance of emotional labor required of HWSs and the necessity of the appropriate emotional regulation [ 12 ]. Moreover, recent research highlights how the use of appropriate emotional strategies seems to be a protective factor for the consequences of COVID-19 on the mental health of HWSs [ 13 ], therefore also aiding Post-Traumatic Growth [ 14 ].…”