Hopelessness and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Any Role for Mediating Variables?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Andrea Amerio¹  Nicolò Parodi¹  Mario Amore¹  Gianluca Serafini¹  Andrea Aguglia¹  Alessandra Costanza²  Francesco Copello³ 

[1] Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy;Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1206 Geneva, Switzerland;IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy;

关键词: mental health;    hopelessness;    healthcare workers;    post-traumatic symptoms;    psychological trauma;    anxiety;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph18126579

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has many psychological consequences for the population, ranging from anxious-depressive symptoms and insomnia to complex post-traumatic syndromes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of healthcare workers, focusing on the association between hopelessness, death anxiety, and post-traumatic symptomatology. Eight hundred forty-two healthcare workers were recruited between 21 March 2020 and 15 May 2020. A specific questionnaire was administered to assess socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, together with psychometric scales: Beck Hopelessness Scale, Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS). Respondents with hopelessness scored higher in the DAS and DTS than respondents without hopelessness. Furthermore, death anxiety was identified as a potential mediator of the significant association between hopelessness and post-traumatic symptomatology. The impact of death anxiety should be recognized in vulnerable populations, such as frontline healthcare workers. Therefore, pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies could be useful to attenuate the negative psychological consequences and reduce the burden worldwide.

【 授权许可】

Unknown