Taking care of the caregivers: The moderating role of reflective supervision in the relationship between COVID‐19 stress and the mental and professional well‐being of the IECMH workforce

Abstract

The present study examined the relationships between COVID‐related stress, mental health and professional burnout in the infant and early child mental health (IECMH) workforce and examined reflective supervision and consultation (RSC) as a potential protective factor in the context of COVID‐related stress. Participants included 123 adults (n = 121 female, modal age range 30–39 years) in the TN IECMH workforce (mean years of experience = 13.6 years) surveyed in June/July 2020. Sector representation was quite varied (home visiting, childcare, child welfare, early intervention). Results indicated the majority (63%) of the sample was caring for someone else (e.g., child or elderly person) while working at home, 46% of the sample had depression symptoms (18% in the moderate‐severe range), and 75% of the sample had anxiety symptoms (33% in the moderate‐severe range). Higher COVID stress was associated with higher internalizing symptoms and burnout levels and this relationship was mediated by self‐care behaviors such that the more COVID stress one reported, the fewer self‐care behaviors they engaged in, and the higher the risk for internalizing and burnout. Finally, the pathway from COVID stress to self‐care behaviors was moderated by RSC. IECMH professionals who received less than 1 year (or no experience) of RSC showed a significant decrease in self‐care behaviors during times of low, average and high levels of COVID stress compared to those who received 1 year or more of RSC. Implications for both policy and practice will be discussed.

Reflective supervision and consultation and its impact within early childhood‐serving programs: A systematic review

“…Hazen et al (2020) found that post-intervention reflective practice quality moderated the association between pre-intervention vicarious trauma and post-intervention burnout, such that early childhood-serving providers who reported high levels of vicarious trauma and higher quality reflective practice had lower rates of burnout compared to the providers with high levels of vicarious trauma and lower quality reflective practice. Morelen et al (2022) found that higher levels of self-reported COVID-19 stress were associated with lower levels of self-care only when providers had received no reflective supervision or less than one year of reflective supervision.…”

Minority stress, pandemic stress, and mental health among gender diverse young adults: Gender dysphoria and emotion dysregulation as mediators.

“…Each item was scored separately, mainly on a binary of yes or no (i.e., whether the participant experienced the stressor). To examine the experience of pandemic stress more broadly, a composite score using 16 binary-coded items that specifically reflected pandemic-related stress, per the approach of Morelen et al (2022). Scores on this measure could range from 0 to 16, with 16 indicating that a participant experienced all 16 stressors.…”

“…(continued) the approach ofMorelen et al (2022). Scores on this measure could range from 0 to 16, with 16 indicating that a participant experienced all 16 stressors.…”

Features of Heart Failure in Patients Who Have Contracted a Coronavirus Infection

“…Повідомляють про високий рівень стресу у медсестер під час цих екстремальних обставин [20]. Що більший "COVID-стрес", то менше часу займає самообслуговування і вищий ризик вигорання [21]. При цьому важливим є знання рівня стресу для зменшення подальшого психологічного навантаження [22].…”