The Association between Resilience and Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This study examined the association between resilience and psychological distress in healthcare workers, the general population, and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Science Direct, and Nursing and Allied Health databases. Included articles examined healthcare workers (e.g., physicians and nurses), the general population, and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies of exposure to other infectious diseases related to epidemics or pandemics (e.g., SARS and MERS) were excluded. This study was performed following the Cooper matrix review method and PRISMA guidelines, followed by a meta-analysis of study results using R version 4.1.2. A random effect model was used for the pooled analysis. This study was registered with PROSPERO (registration No. CRD42021261429). Based on the meta-analysis, we found a moderate negative relationship between overall resilience and psychological distress (r = −0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.45 to −0.38, p < 0.001). For the subgroup analysis, a moderately significant negative relationship between overall resilience and psychological distress was found among healthcare workers (r = −0.39, 95% CI: −0.44 to −0.33, p < 0.001), which was weaker than in the general population (r = −0.45, 95% CI: −0.50 to −0.39, p < 0.001) and in patients (r = −0.43; 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.33; p < 0.001). This association was robust, although the heterogeneity among individual effect sizes was substantial (I2 = 94%, 99%, and 74%, respectively). This study revealed a moderate negative relationship between resilience and psychological distress in healthcare workers, the general population, and patients. For all these populations, interventions and resources are needed to improve individuals’ resilience and ability to cope with psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future disease outbreaks.

Mentalizing, Resilience, and Mental Health Status among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The obtained results confirmed that resilience contributed to the explanation of each of the dimensions of mental health; more precisely, the greater the resilience of healthcare workers, the lesser the depression, anxiety, and stress they experienced, which is in line with the results of numerous studies conducted around the world during the pandemic [ 32 ]. Resilience is a dynamic process of adaptability to difficult life circumstances that includes several features of personal resources and was considered a protective factor against mental health problems in healthcare workers even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic [ 6 ].…”

Resilience and social support improve mental health and quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome

“…Literature confirms the positive effect of resilience on individuals’ life. In particular, a meta-analysis found a significant negative correlation between resilience and psychological distress in COVID-19 patients (Jeamjitvibool et al, 2022). Similarly, a meta-analysis including patients with a somatic illness or health problem found a negative relationship between resilience and anxiety and depression (Färber & Rosendahl, 2018).…”

“…The positive impact of resilience and social support during the pandemic has already proven. In particular, a meta-analysis found a significant negative relationship between resilience and psychological distress among COVID-19 patients (Jeamjitvibool et al, 2022). Moreover, a review including workers found that resilience was associated with lower levels of anxiety, depression and burnout (Finstad et al, 2021).…”

Post-COVID-19 syndrome and related dysautonomia affect patients’ life and work productivity

“…Several meta-analyses confirm the positive effect of resilience on individuals’ life. For example, higher levels of resilience decrease psychological distress in COVID-19 patients (Jeamjitvibool et al, 2022). Moreover, during the pandemic resilience acted as a protective factor maintaining good quality of life among people (Aldhahi et al, 2021; Javellana et al, 2022; Koivunen et al, 2022) Also, there is a negative relationship between resilience and anxiety and depression among patients with a somatic illness or health problem (Färber & Rosendahl, 2018).…”