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Working in the Times of COVID-19. Psychological Impact of the Pandemic in Frontline Workers in Spain

Author

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  • Rocío Rodríguez-Rey

    (School of Human and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

  • Helena Garrido-Hernansaiz

    (Department of Education and Psychology, Centro Universitario Cardenal Cisneros, 28806 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

  • Nereida Bueno-Guerra

    (School of Human and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

This study evaluates the psychological impact (PI) of the COVID-19 pandemic in frontline workers in Spain. Participants were 546 workers (296 healthcare workers, 105 media professionals, 89 grocery workers, and 83 protective service workers). They all completed online questionnaires assessing PI, sadness, concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and demographic and work-related variables. All groups but protective services workers showed higher PI levels than the general population. Healthcare and grocery workers were the most affected, with 73.6% and 65.2% of the participants, respectively, showing a severe PI. Women showed a higher PI level. Healthcare workers in the regions with higher COVID-19 incidences reported greater PI levels. The main concerns were being infected by COVID-19 or infecting others. Levels of concern correlated with higher PI levels. The protection equipment was generally reported as insufficient, which correlated with higher PI levels. Professionals reporting to overwork during the crisis (60% mass-media, 38% of healthcare and grocery and 21.7% of protective service) showed higher PI levels. In the healthcare group, taking care of patients with COVID-19 (77%) or of dying patients with COVID-19 (43.9%) was associated with higher PI levels. The perceived social recognition of their work was inversely related to PI. Most of the sample had not received psychological support. We suggest some organizational measures for frontline institutions, such as the periodical monitoring or inclusion of psychologists specialized in crisis-management to prevent negative symptoms and provide timely support.

Suggested Citation

  • Rocío Rodríguez-Rey & Helena Garrido-Hernansaiz & Nereida Bueno-Guerra, 2020. "Working in the Times of COVID-19. Psychological Impact of the Pandemic in Frontline Workers in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-23, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8149-:d:439930
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Jill E. Hobbs, 2020. "Food supply chains during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 68(2), pages 171-176, June.
    3. Juan Gómez-Salgado & Sara Domínguez-Salas & Macarena Romero-Martín & Mónica Ortega-Moreno & Juan Jesús García-Iglesias & Carlos Ruiz-Frutos, 2020. "Sense of Coherence and Psychological Distress Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1, August.
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    2. Elizabeth Keller & Meghan Widestrom & Jory Gould & Runcheng Fang & Kermit G. Davis & Gordon Lee Gillespie, 2022. "Examining the Impact of Stressors during COVID-19 on Emergency Department Healthcare Workers: An International Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
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    4. Joanna Gaitens & Marian Condon & Eseosa Fernandes & Melissa McDiarmid, 2021. "COVID-19 and Essential Workers: A Narrative Review of Health Outcomes and Moral Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Melissa Janson & Jill D. Sharkey & Daniel A. del Cid, 2021. "Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes in Grocery Store Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for Workplace Safety and Moral Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Nada Marić & Aleksandar Popović & Sonja Peričević Medić & Milorad Španović & Nataša Maksimović, 2023. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems among Essential and Nonessential Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2021, in an Unstable and Developing Country: A Cross-Sectional," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    7. Chorom Lee & Byungyoon Yun & Won-Tae Lee & Juho Sim & Chi-Nyon Kim & Jong-Uk Won & Jin-Ha Yoon, 2022. "Resilience and Depressive Symptoms among Medical Staff in a Military Hospital Dedicated to the Treatment of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-10, September.
    8. Dana Alonzo & Marciana Popescu, 2022. "A qualitative examination of the mental health impact of Covid-19 in marginalized communities in Guatemala: The Covid Care Calls survey," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(7), pages 1435-1444, November.

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