Article
Social support and optimism as protective factors for mental health among 7,765 healthcare workers in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of the VOICE study
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Authors
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Caterina Schug
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Eva Morawa
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Franziska Geiser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Clinic of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Nina Hiebel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Clinic of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Petra Beschoner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Lucia Jerg-Bretzke
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Christian Albus
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
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Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Andrea Borho
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Marietta Lieb
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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Yesim Erim
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| Published: | September 27, 2021 |
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Outline
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Background and status of (inter)national research: The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting mental health worldwide, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs).
Question and objective: Risk and protective factors for depression and generalized anxiety in healthcare workers need to be identified to protect their health and ability to work. Social support and optimism are known protective psychosocial resources, but have not been adequately studied in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in Germany.
Method or hypothesis: Within the first wave of the VOICE study (n=7765), a longitudinal web-based survey study among healthcare workers in Germany, we assessed symptoms of depression (PHQ-2) and generalized anxiety (GAD-2), social support (ENRICHD Social Support Inventory; ESSI), and generalized optimism as well as sociodemographic, occupational, and COVID-19 related variables. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between the constructs.
Results: The analyses revealed that higher levels of social support and optimism were associated with lower levels of depression and generalized anxiety. They showed a higher association with depression and generalized anxiety than demographic or occupational risk factors such as female gender and direct contact with infected individuals.
Discussion: Psychosocial resources such as social support and optimism appear to contribute to successful coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and should be considered in future studies.
Practical implications: Psychosocial resources such as social support and optimism appear to contribute to successful coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and should be considered in future studies.
Appeal for practice (science and/or care) in one sentence: Psychosocial resources such as social support and optimism should be considered in future studies in order to develop interventions for promoting mental health during pandemics.
