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The Role of Work Engagement in Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic among Mental Healthcare Workers: An Italian Study to Improve Work Sustainability during Emergency Situations

Author

Listed:
  • Valentina Fietta

    (Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy)

  • Francesca Bertoldo

    (Unità Operativa di Psichiatria, Area Territoriale EST, APSS, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Gasperi

    (Unità Operativa di Psichiatria, Area Territoriale EST, APSS, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Cristina Mazza

    (Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Paolo Roma

    (Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Merylin Monaro

    (Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy)

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers faced an emergency that had significant psychological impacts on them. In this study, an investigation regarding work engagement as a protective factor for well-being was conducted on a sample of Italian healthcare workers in the field of mental health. Correlation and linear regression analyses were run on scores of standardized questionnaires about work engagement, burnout, resilience, stress, and coping strategies. Results indicate that work engagement is positively correlated with resilience, while it is negatively correlated with burnout and stress, particularly caused by personal attacks at work. As concerns the use of functional or dysfunctional coping strategies, negative correlations between work engagement and problem avoidance and emotional distress strategies were found. In conclusion, work engagement was confirmed to be an important protective factor that should be promoted among mental healthcare professionals to help them deal with health emergencies and to improve the psychological sustainability of the work.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentina Fietta & Francesca Bertoldo & Lorenzo Gasperi & Cristina Mazza & Paolo Roma & Merylin Monaro, 2023. "The Role of Work Engagement in Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic among Mental Healthcare Workers: An Italian Study to Improve Work Sustainability during Emergency Situations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3214-:d:1063633
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cristina Mazza & Marco Colasanti & Eleonora Ricci & Serena Di Giandomenico & Daniela Marchetti & Lilybeth Fontanesi & Maria Cristina Verrocchio & Stefano Ferracuti & Paolo Roma, 2021. "The COVID-19 Outbreak and Psychological Distress in Healthcare Workers: The Role of Personality Traits, Attachment Styles, and Sociodemographic Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Tiziana Maiorano & Monia Vagni & Valeria Giostra & Daniela Pajardi, 2020. "COVID-19: Risk Factors and Protective Role of Resilience and Coping Strategies for Emergency Stress and Secondary Trauma in Medical Staff and Emergency Workers—An Online-Based Inquiry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    3. María-Carmen De-la-Calle-Durán & José-Luis Rodríguez-Sánchez, 2021. "Employee Engagement and Wellbeing in Times of COVID-19: A Proposal of the 5Cs Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. George Alexias & Maria Papandreopoulou & Constantinos Togas, 2024. "Work Engagement and Burnout in a Private Healthcare Unit in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-12, January.

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