Psychological Distress in Healthcare Workers between the First and Second COVID-19 Waves: The Role of Personality Traits, Attachment Style, and Metacognitive Functioning as Protective and Vulnerability Factors

Loredana Cena, Matteo Rota, Stefano Calza, Jessica Janos, Alice Trainini and Alberto Stefana
Additional contact information
Loredana Cena: Observatory of Perinatal Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Matteo Rota: Unit of Biostatistics, Biomathematics and Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Stefano Calza: Unit of Biostatistics, Biomathematics and Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Jessica Janos: Observatory of Perinatal Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Alice Trainini: Observatory of Perinatal Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Alberto Stefana: Observatory of Perinatal Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Section of Neuroscience, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) since its outbreak, but little attention has been paid to person-level vulnerability and protective factors. This study aims to determine the prevalence of both general and pandemic-related psychological distress among HCWs between the first and second COVID-19 waves in Italy and analyze associations between psychological distress and personality traits, attachment style, and metacognitive functioning. Between June and October 2020, 235 Italian HCWs completed questionnaires concerning psychological stress, personality traits, attachment style, and metacognitive functioning; 26.5% of respondents presented with moderate to extremely severe levels of general psychological distress and 13.8% with moderate to extremely severe levels of pandemic-related psychological distress. After controlling for demographic and occupational variables, significant associations emerged among high emotional stability as a personality trait and both general (aOR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.41–0.79) and pandemic-related psychological stress (aOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41–0.90). Additionally, higher scores regarding one’s ability to understand others’ emotional states were associated with lower odds of developing psychological distress (aOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63–0.93). Lastly, when comparing those with fearful attachment styles to those with secure attachments, the aOR for psychological distress was 4.73 (95% CI: 1.45–17.04). These results highlight the importance of conducting baseline assessments of HCWs’ person-level factors and providing regular screenings of psychological distress.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; psychological distress; burnout; healthcare workers; personality traits; attachment style; metacognitive functioning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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