In Pursuit of Emotional Stability: Exploring the Role of PsyCap and Its Correlates among Health Care Workers during Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: A novel coronavirus pneumonia pandemic broke out, which ultimately spread over the world and affected public health. Global growth has been impeded, societal instability has been brought about, and overall mental health has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers, especially nurses, experienced an extensive amount of occupational stress, emotional discomfort and instability during this period. One of the positive factors that enable people to overcome psychological discomfort and hardship and enhance perseverance in their field of work is psychological capital (PsyCap). It is described as the positive and progressive state of the person, defined by HERO as a high degree of hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. Aim & Objectives: This study aims to identify the relationship of Psychological capital with Coping and Positive & negative affect. And further, it aims to find the differences in male and female health care workers on the basis of these variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A correlational study was designed using purposive sampling to obtain a sample of healthcare workers in various hospitals in Kerala. The participants of age range 20 to 45 were selected for this study. After gaining the informed consent, all the scale including psychological capital questionnaire (PCQ-24), Brief Cope and positive affect and negative affect schedule (PANAS) were used in the present study. Obtained data had been statistically computed by using SPSS version 22. Result: Result suggested that Psychological capital is significantly positively correlated with coping, positive affect dimension of PANAS and negatively correlated with negative affect which is dimension of PANAS. Further it revealed that there is no significant difference between male and female health care workers with respect to these variables namely psychological capital, brief coping, positive affect and negative affect. Conclusion: This study paints a clear picture of the importance of psychological elements like positive affect, coping, and PsyCap in the lives of healthcare workers (HCWs) in order to improve their emotional stability, perseverance, and commitment to their jobs.