“Did You Bring It Home with You?” A Qualitative Investigation of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Victorian Frontline Healthcare Workers and Their Families

Jade Sheen, Elizabeth M. Clancy, Julie Considine, Alison Dwyer, Phillip Tchernegovski, Anna Aridas, Brian En Chyi Lee, Andrea Reupert and Leanne Boyd
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Jade Sheen: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong 3200, Australia
Elizabeth M. Clancy: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong 3200, Australia
Julie Considine: Centre for Quality and Patient Safety, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Geelong 3200, Australia
Alison Dwyer: Eastern Health Melbourne, Box Hill 3128, Australia
Phillip Tchernegovski: School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia
Anna Aridas: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong 3200, Australia
Brian En Chyi Lee: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong 3200, Australia
Andrea Reupert: School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia
Leanne Boyd: Eastern Health Melbourne, Box Hill 3128, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: Concerns regarding the physical and mental health impacts of frontline healthcare roles during the COVID-19 pandemic have been well documented, but the impacts on family functioning remain unclear. This study provides a unique contribution to the literature by considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers and their families. Thirty-nine frontline healthcare workers from Victoria, Australia, who were parents to at least one child under 18 were interviewed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five superordinate and 14 subordinate themes were identified. Themes included more family time during lockdowns, but at a cost; changes in family responsibilities and routines; managing increased demands; healthcare workers hypervigilance and fear of bringing COVID-19 home to their family members; ways in which families worked to “get through it”. While efforts have been made by many healthcare organisations to support their workers during this challenging time, the changes in family functioning observed by participants suggest that more could be done for this vulnerable cohort, particularly with respect to family support.

Keywords: frontline; healthcare worker; COVID-19; family functioning; pandemic (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 (3)

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