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Psychological Adjustment of Healthcare Workers in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Differences in Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Satisfaction between Frontline and Non-Frontline Professionals

Author

Listed:
  • Carmen Trumello

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Sonia Monique Bramanti

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Giulia Ballarotto

    (Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica e Clinica, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy)

  • Carla Candelori

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Luca Cerniglia

    (Facoltà di Psicologia, Università Telematica Internazionale Uninettuno di Roma, 00186 Roma, Italy)

  • Silvia Cimino

    (Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica e Clinica, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy)

  • Monia Crudele

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Lucia Lombardi

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Silvia Pignataro

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Maria Luisa Viceconti

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Alessandra Babore

    (Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

Abstract

Emergency situations have been associated with negative psychological adjustment outcomes in healthcare professionals, although studies on the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic amongst Italian health workers are limited. The main aim of this study was to investigate the psychological adjustment of healthcare professionals during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluating differences according to working or not with patients affected by COVID-19 and in areas with a more severe spread of this pandemic. Healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward psychological support were analyzed. The levels of anxiety, depression, psychological stress, and professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue) and attitudes toward psychological support were measured among 627 Italian healthcare workers (mean age = 40.55 years; SD = 11.49; range: 27–72). Significantly higher levels of stress, burnout, secondary trauma, anxiety, and depression were observed among professionals working with COVID-19 patients. Higher levels of stress and burnout and lower levels of compassion satisfaction were detected in professionals working in areas with higher rates of contagion. No interaction effects were found between working (or not) with patients affected by COVID-19 and working (or not) in areas with a more severe diffusion of this pandemic. Finally, in the group of professionals who worked with COVID-19 patients, the percentage of professionals who thought to ask for psychological support was twice that of the group that did not work with COVID-19 patients. The overall findings indicate that the mental health of frontline healthcare workers requires further consideration and that targeted prevention and intervention programs are necessary.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmen Trumello & Sonia Monique Bramanti & Giulia Ballarotto & Carla Candelori & Luca Cerniglia & Silvia Cimino & Monia Crudele & Lucia Lombardi & Silvia Pignataro & Maria Luisa Viceconti & Alessandra, 2020. "Psychological Adjustment of Healthcare Workers in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Differences in Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Satisfaction between Frontli," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8358-:d:443588
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leiter, Michael P. & Harvie, Phyllis & Frizzell, Cindy, 1998. "The correspondence of patient satisfaction and nurse burnout," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(10), pages 1611-1617, November.
    2. Yan Liu & Li Lu & Wen-Xin Wang & Shou Liu & Hong-Ru Chen & Xiang Gao & Ming-Yu Huang & Yong-Nian Liu & Yan-Ming Ren & Chao-Cai Wang, 2020. "Job Burnout and Occupational Stressors among Chinese Healthcare Professionals at County-Level Health Alliances," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
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