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Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Gianni Nepa

    (Hospital “G. Mazzini”, ASL 4, 64100 Teramo, Italy)

  • Tracy A. Prout

    (Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA)

  • Fabrizio Albertini

    (Hospital “G. Mazzoni”, Asur Marche Area Vasta 5 Ascoli Piceno, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy)

  • Stefano Marcelli

    (Hospital “G. Mazzoni”, Asur Marche Area Vasta 5 Ascoli Piceno, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy
    Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Graziella Orrù

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Ciro Conversano

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

Abstract

The experience of working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis has presented a cumulative traumatic experience that affects healthcare professionals’ well-being. Psychological resources such as resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms are essential in protecting individuals from severe stress and burnout. During September 2020, 233 healthcare workers responded to an online survey to test the impact of demographic variables, COVID-19 exposure, and psychological resources in determining stress and burnout during the COVID-19 emergency. Frontline workers reported higher scores for stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization ( p < 0.001) as compared to colleagues working in units not directly serving patients with COVID-19. Mature defensive functioning was associated with resilience and personal accomplishment ( r = 0.320; p < 0.001), while neurotic and immature defenses were related to perceived stress and burnout. Stress and burnout were predicted by lower age, female gender, greater exposure to COVID-19, lower resilience, and immature defensive functioning among healthcare professionals (R 2 = 463; p < 0.001). Working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to provoke greater stress and burnout. On the other hand, resilience and adaptive defense mechanisms predicted better adjustment. Future reaction plans should promote effective programs offering support for healthcare workers who provide direct care to patients with COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe & Gianni Nepa & Tracy A. Prout & Fabrizio Albertini & Stefano Marcelli & Graziella Orrù & Ciro Conversano, 2021. "Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5258-:d:555061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Georgia Libera Finstad & Gabriele Giorgi & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Caterina Pandolfi & Giulia Foti & José M. León-Perez & Francisco J. Cantero-Sánchez & Nicola Mucci, 2021. "Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-25, September.
    3. Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe & Graziella Orrù & Angelo Gemignani & Rebecca Ciacchini & Mario Miniati & Ciro Conversano, 2022. "Mindfulness and Defense Mechanisms as Explicit and Implicit Emotion Regulation Strategies against Psychological Distress during Massive Catastrophic Events," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Marcella Paterlini & Erica Neri & Alessia Nicoli & Federica Genova & Maria Teresa Villani & Sara Santi & Francesca Agostini, 2022. "Emotions, Stress and Coping among Healthcare Workers in a Reproductive Medicine Unit during the First and Second COVID-19 Lockdowns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Ladislav Štěpánek & Marie Nakládalová & Magdaléna Janošíková & Romana Ulbrichtová & Viera Švihrová & Henrieta Hudečková & Eliška Sovová & Milan Sova & Jiří Vévoda, 2023. "Prevalence of Burnout in Healthcare Workers of Tertiary-Care Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Two Central European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    6. Teodora Safiye & Branimir Vukčević & Medo Gutić & Ardea Milidrag & Draško Dubljanin & Jakša Dubljanin & Branimir Radmanović, 2022. "Resilience, Mentalizing and Burnout Syndrome among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Serbia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, May.
    7. Davis Cooper-Bribiesca & Dulce María Rascón-Martínez & José Adan Miguel-Puga & María Karen Juárez-Carreón & Luis Alejandro Sánchez-Hurtado & Tania Colin-Martinez & Juan Carlos Anda-Garay & Eliseo Espi, 2023. "Physicians’ Distress Related to Moral Issues and Mental Health In-Between Two Late Waves of COVID-19 Contagions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-19, February.

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