Work-Related Traumatic Stress Response in Nurses Employed in COVID-19 Settings

Maria Karanikola (), Meropi Mpouzika, Elizabeth Papathanassoglou, Katerina Kaikoushi, Anna Hatzioannou, Ioannis Leontiou, Chris Livadiotis, Nicos Christophorou and Andreas Chatzittofis
Additional contact information
Maria Karanikola: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Meropi Mpouzika: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Elizabeth Papathanassoglou: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
Katerina Kaikoushi: Cyprus Community Mental Health Services, Famagusta 5566, Cyprus
Anna Hatzioannou: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Ioannis Leontiou: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Chris Livadiotis: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Nicos Christophorou: Limassol General Hospital, Limassol 3041, Cyprus
Andreas Chatzittofis: Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1065, Cyprus

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: Nurses may be at a higher risk of experiencing work-related traumatic stress response during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other clinicians. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between work-related trauma symptoms and demographic factors, psychosocial hazards and stress response in a census sample of nurses working in COVID-19 settings in Cyprus. In this nationwide descriptive and cross-sectional study, data were collected between April and May 2020 using a questionnaire that included sociodemographic, educational and employment and work-related variables, as well as a modified version of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) for the assessment of work-related trauma symptoms during the pandemic. Overall, 233 nurses participated (with a response rate of 61.3%) and 25.7% of them reported clinical work-related trauma symptoms (STSS-M > 55; actual scale range: 17–85). The mean value for emotional exhaustion was 7.3 (SD: 2.29; visual scale range: 1–10), while the value for distress that was caused by being avoided due to work in COVID-19 units was 6.98 (SD: 2.69; visual scale range: 1–10). Positive associations were noted between trauma symptoms and both emotional exhaustion and distress from being avoided by others due to work in a COVID-19 setting and a negative association was also found between trauma symptoms and satisfaction from organizational support variables (all p < 0.002). Working in COVID-19 settings during the pandemic is a stressful experience that has been linked to psychologically traumatic symptoms Thus, supportive measures are proposed for healthcare personnel, even in countries with low COVID-19 burden.

Keywords: COVID-19 settings; emotional exhaustion; job satisfaction; nurses; organizational support; traumatic stress symptoms; secondary trauma (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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