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Healthcare Workers and Life Satisfaction during the Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Costi, Chiara

    (University of Luxembourg)

  • Clark, Andrew E.

    (Paris School of Economics)

  • Lepinteur, Anthony

    (University of Luxembourg)

  • D'Ambrosio, Conchita

    (University of Luxembourg)

Abstract

We evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life satisfaction of healthcare workers, as compared to the wider workforce, in five European countries. In ten waves of quarterly panel data, the life satisfaction of healthcare workers is always higher than that of other essential workers and non-essential workers. Life satisfaction follows a double humped pattern over time for all workers, which is largely explained by the COVID-19 death rate and policy stringency. The spread of the pandemic in terms of the death rate has twice as large an effect on healthcare workers' life satisfaction; on the contrary, the latter are the only workers whose satisfaction was not affected by the stringency of lockdown policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Costi, Chiara & Clark, Andrew E. & Lepinteur, Anthony & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2023. "Healthcare Workers and Life Satisfaction during the Pandemic," IZA Discussion Papers 16680, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16680
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giuseppe Moscelli & Melisa Sayli & Marco Mello & Alberto Vesperoni, 2025. "Staff engagement, co‐workers' complementarity and employee retention: evidence from English NHS hospitals," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 92(365), pages 42-83, January.
    2. Chen, Le-Yu & Oparina, Ekaterina & Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Srisuma, Sorawoot, 2022. "Robust Ranking of Happiness Outcomes: A Median Regression Perspective," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 672-686.
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    7. Andrew E. Clark, 2018. "Four Decades of the Economics of Happiness: Where Next?," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 64(2), pages 245-269, June.
    8. Moscelli, Giuseppe & Sayli, Melisa & Mello, Marco, 2022. "Staff Engagement, Job Complementarity and Labour Supply: Evidence from the English NHS Hospital Workforce," IZA Discussion Papers 15126, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Moscelli, G.; & Sayli, M.; & Mello, M.;, 2022. "Staff engagement, coworkers’ complementarity and employee retention: Evidence from English NHS hospitals," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 22/25, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
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    11. Liyousew Borga & Andrew E. Clark & Conchita D’ambrosio & Anthony Lepinteur, 2022. "Characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-04156060, HAL.
    12. de Belvis, Antonio Giulio & Ferrè, Francesca & Specchia, Maria Lucia & Valerio, Luca & Fattore, Giovanni & Ricciardi, Walter, 2012. "The financial crisis in Italy: Implications for the healthcare sector," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(1), pages 10-16.
    13. Samira Barbara Jabakhanji & Anthony Lepinteur & Giorgia Menta & Alan Piper & Claus Vögele, 2022. "Sleep quality and the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in five European countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(12), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Andrew E. Clark & Anthony Lepinteur, 2022. "Pandemic Policy and Life Satisfaction in Europe," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 68(2), pages 393-408, June.
    15. 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.
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    Cited by:

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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