Finding the positives from the COVID-19 pandemic: factors associated with posttraumatic growth among nurses in Hong Kong. Issue 1 (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeung, Nelson Chun-Yiu; Wong, Eliza Lai-Yi; Cheung, Annie Wai-Ling; Leung, Cecilia Shih-Ya; Yeoh, Eng-Kiong; Wong, Samuel Yeung-Shan
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 13:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Posttraumatic growth -- COVID-19 -- nurses -- work satisfaction -- worries; crecimiento postraumático -- COVID-19 -- enfermeras -- satisfacción laboral -- preocupaciones; 創傷後成長 -- 新冠肺炎 -- 護士 -- 工作滿意度 -- 擔憂; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2021.2005346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Due to active involvement with patients for COVID-19 treatments, nurses are susceptible to adverse psychological outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the distress, studies have suggested that nurses are able to experience positive changes (i.e. posttraumatic growth; PTG) during the pandemic. Research on other populations has also indicated that COVID-19-specific worries and work-related coping resources are associated with people's positive changes during the pandemic. Objective: This study examined how socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related worries, and work-related variables (satisfaction with work and workplace pandemic guidelines) were associated with PTG among nurses in Hong Kong. Methods: Nurses ( N = 1510) working in hospitals and community settings were recruited through nursing associations in Hong Kong between 8 August 2020 and 22 September 2020. They were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey measuring their sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 worries, and satisfaction with work and workplace pandemic-control measures. Results: Results from hierarchical regressions found that those working non-full-time ( β = −0.06), affiliating with a religion ( β = 0.24), having higher COVID-19-related worries and psychological distress ( βs ranging from 0.12–0.15), and having higher work satisfaction ( β = 0.14) were associated with higher PTG ( ps < .05). Moreover, a significant interaction between psychological distress and satisfaction with workplace pandemic control guidelines emerged in explaining PTG ( β = 0.08, p < .05), such that guideline satisfaction was only associated with higher PTG among those with higher distress ( β = 0.09, p = .03), but not those with lower distress ( β = −0.05, p > .05). Conclusions: Nurses in Hong Kong did report positive changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies could focus on the contributing factors of PTG to design for effective strategies to enhance resources for nurses to promote positive psychosocial outcomes. HIGHLIGHTS: Work satisfaction was associated with nurses' posttraumatic growth (PTG) amid COVID-19. Workplace pandemic control guidelines satisfaction was associated with PTG only among nurses with higher distress. To enhance nurses' PTG, those work-related factors should be addressed.