Fear of COVID-19 Impact on Professional Quality of Life among Mental Health Workers

Pentagiotissa Stefanatou (), Lida-Alkisti Xenaki, Ioannis Karagiorgas, Angeliki-Aikaterini Ntigrintaki, Eleni Giannouli, Ioannis A. Malogiannis and George Konstantakopoulos
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Pentagiotissa Stefanatou: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Lida-Alkisti Xenaki: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Karagiorgas: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Angeliki-Aikaterini Ntigrintaki: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Eleni Giannouli: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Ioannis A. Malogiannis: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
George Konstantakopoulos: First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Several studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers’ mental health, but only a few have investigated its detrimental effect on the mental well-being of mental health workers (MHWs). Background: The current study aimed to explore the effect of the fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19) on professional quality of life dimensions, namely compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in MHWs above and beyond sociodemographic and professional factors. Methods: Hierarchical linear regression models were employed to examine the relationship of extreme FCV-19 with CS, BO, and STS in MHWs ( n = 224), after considering sociodemographic variables as potential confounding factors. Extreme FCV-19 was operationalized as a binary variable with a cut-off score of ≥16.5 considered as extreme fear. Results: We found that extreme FCV-19 in MHWs is linked with increased compassion fatigue (BO and STS), and this relationship is exacerbated by younger age in regard to BO and by female gender concerning STS. CS remains unaffected by severe FCV-19, and it is higher in older participants. Conclusion: Organizational support is required to protect MHWs’ mental well-being and ensure the quality of care they provide during prolonged crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures that intensify a sense of safety, protection, and control against COVID-19 infections in mental health services should be included in the recommendations that may reduce BO and STS among MHWs.

Keywords: fear of COVID-19; mental health workers; compassion satisfaction; compassion fatigue; burnout; secondary traumatic stress; ProQOL; Greece (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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