Burnout and Psychological Vulnerability in First Responders: Monitoring Depersonalization and Phobic Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Veronica Benincasa, Maria Passannante, Filippo Perrini, Luna Carpinelli, Giuseppina Moccia, Tiziana Marinaci, Mario Capunzo, Concetta Pironti, Armando Genovese, Giulia Savarese, Francesco De Caro and Oriana Motta
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Veronica Benincasa: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Maria Passannante: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Filippo Perrini: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Luna Carpinelli: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Giuseppina Moccia: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Tiziana Marinaci: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Mario Capunzo: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Concetta Pironti: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Armando Genovese: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Giulia Savarese: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Francesco De Caro: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
Oriana Motta: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baronissi Campus, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: Background: It is common knowledge that first responders are among the helping professionals most at risk of burnout and psychological vulnerability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their mental health has been subjected to various risk factors. Methods: Data on socio-demographic characteristics, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and psychological vulnerability (SCL-90-R) were obtained from 228 subjects (55.3% female; M age = 45.23, SD = 13.14) grouped on the basis of their actual involvement during the emergency phases (82% First Responders and 18% Second Responders). Results: First responders exceeded the MBI clinical cut-off, while SRs did not (?² ? 0.5); specifically, EE = 89.8%, DP = 85.8%, and PA = 82.1%. The FR group showed a higher mean in the global severity index (GSI = 49.37) than did the SRs (=43.95), and the FR group exceeded the clinical cut-off in the SCL-90-R scales of SOM (51.06), ANX (52.40), and PHOB (53.60), while the SF group did so only for the PHOB scale (50.41). The MBI dimensions correlated significantly ( p = 0.05) with all investigated clinical scales of the SCL-90-R. Conclusions: Emergency situations expose first responders to specific risk factors related to work performance and relational aspects, which contribute to increased psychological vulnerability and burnout.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; first responders; helping professions; depersonalization; burnout; psychological vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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