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Social Support and Optimism as Protective Factors for Mental Health among 7765 Healthcare Workers in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the VOICE Study

Author

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  • Caterina Schug

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    The present work was performed in fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree “Dr. rer. biol. hum”.)

  • Eva Morawa

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Franziska Geiser

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Clinic of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Nina Hiebel

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Clinic of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Petra Beschoner

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany)

  • Lucia Jerg-Bretzke

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany)

  • Christian Albus

    (Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, 50931 Cologne, Germany)

  • Kerstin Weidner

    (Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

  • Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen

    (Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

  • Andrea Borho

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Marietta Lieb

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Yesim Erim

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting mental health worldwide, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs). 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. Methods: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Caterina Schug & Eva Morawa & Franziska Geiser & Nina Hiebel & Petra Beschoner & Lucia Jerg-Bretzke & Christian Albus & Kerstin Weidner & Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen & Andrea Borho & Marietta Lieb & Yes, 2021. "Social Support and Optimism as Protective Factors for Mental Health among 7765 Healthcare Workers in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the VOICE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3827-:d:530945
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Anita Padmanabhanunni & Tyrone B. Pretorius & Serena Ann Isaacs, 2023. "Satisfied with Life? The Protective Function of Life Satisfaction in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Negative Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Nicola Magnavita & Paolo Maurizio Soave & Massimo Antonelli, 2021. "Prolonged Stress Causes Depression in Frontline Workers Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in a COVID-19 Hub-Hospital in Central Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Mauda Karram & Andrea M. D'Alessandro-Lowe & Kimberly Ritchie & Andrea Brown & Yuanxin Xue & Mina Pichtikova & Maxwell Altman & Isaac Beech & Heather Millman & Fardous Hosseiny & Sara Rodrigues & Alex, 2023. "A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Canadian Healthcare Workers’ Use of Coping Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Julia König & Seockhoon Chung & Verena Ertl & Bettina K. Doering & Hannah Comtesse & Johanna Unterhitzenberger & Antonia Barke, 2021. "The German Translation of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) Scale: Results from Healthcare Workers during the Second Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Costi, Chiara & Clark, Andrew E. & Lepinteur, Anthony & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2023. "Healthcare Workers and Life Satisfaction during the Pandemic," IZA Discussion Papers 16680, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Nadia Rania & Ilaria Coppola & Marta Brucci, 2023. "Mental Health and Quality of Professional Life of Healthcare Workers: One Year after the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.

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