Supervisors info:
Ρωσσέτος Γουρνέλλης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αθανασία Παπαδοπούλου, Διδάκτωρ, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βασιλική Ευσταθίου, Διδάκτωρ, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction
COVID - 19 has caused significant disturbance in people's lives. The general population suffers from the consequences of the pandemic. Nurses in particular experience intense difficulties, as they are in constant contact with the virus. Their mental health suffers; rates of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and burnout have been rising. There is a variety of factors that seem to affect mental health, either by intensifying the problems, or by protecting people against the adverse effects of sustained contact with the virus. The aim of this research is to identify which factors may increase the likelihood of psychopathology during the pandemic, and which may reduce its effect.
Method
A total of 243 nurses participated in the study, of which 211 were female and 32 were male, aged between 23 and 58 years. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2), The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and Suicidal Ideation Assessment were used to assess anxiety, depressive mood and suicidal ideation respectively. The Olden-burg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) was used to assess burnout, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to assess sleep, and the Connor - Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-2) was used to assess resilience.
Results
The results showed that female gender and having underage children was associated with an increased likelihood of depressive and anxiety symptoms, while pre-existing physical illness and fear of infection was associated with an increased likelihood of burnout and insomnia. Stigma and working with patients with COVID - 19 was found to increase the likelihood of both depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as burnout and insomnia. Psychological resilience and, in particular, rapid recovery after difficulties or illness, appears to be a factor that reduces the likelihood of depressive and anxiety symptoms, insomnia and burnout.
Conclusion
The mental health of nurses has been severely affected during the pandemic. Female gender, fear of infection, working with COVID-19 patients, having children, stigma and pre-existing illness exacerbate the effects of the pandemic on nurses' psychology, while psychological resilience is protective against those effects. Measures should be taken to promote the mental health of nurses and to prevent similar situations in the future.
Keywords:
Mental Health, Nurses, Factors, COVID 19
