Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Licensed Full-Time Practicing Nurses Undertaking Part-Time Studies in Higher Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

Siu-Ling Chan, Naomi Takemura, Pui-Hing Chau, Chia-Chin Lin and Man-Ping Wang
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Siu-Ling Chan: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Naomi Takemura: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Pui-Hing Chau: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Chia-Chin Lin: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Man-Ping Wang: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: Frontline nurses face an unpreceded situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and many report suffering from physical and psychological stress. This online, cross-sectional survey used questionnaires, such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, stress-related questions, and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE), to determine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on licensed full-time practicing nurses undertaking part-time studies in higher education. Recruitment commenced from August to September 2020; 385 students were approached, and 124 completed the survey (response rate: 32%). Most of the respondents were frontline nurses working in public sectors (89.5%), 29% of whom reported symptoms of depression, and 61.3% reported mild to severe levels of anxiety. The GAD-7 was significantly associated with the resilience score (? = ?0.188; p = 0.008) and exhaustion (? = 0.612; p < 0.001). The PHQ-2 was significantly associated with ‘anxiety about infection’ (? = 0.071; p = 0.048). A lower anxiety level was significantly associated with a higher resilience level and a lower level of exhaustion, and a lower depression level was significantly associated with a lower anxiety about infection. Nursing programs incorporating resilience building may mitigate psychological distress of the study population.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; licensed full-time practicing nurses; part-time studies in higher education; GAD-7; PHQ-2; CD-RISC-10; stress-related questions; brief-COPE; resilience; mindfulness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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