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.

Caterina Schug,Andrea Borho,Yesim Erim,Kerstin Weidner,Franziska Geiser,Nina Hiebel,Petra Beschoner,Lucia Jerg-Bretzke,Christian Albus,Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen,Marietta Lieb,Eva Morawa

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073827

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting mental health worldwide, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs). Risk and protective factors for depression and generalized anxiety in healthcare workers need to be identified to protect their health and ability to work. Social support and optimism are known protective psychosocial resources, but have not been adequately studied in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in Germany. Methods: Within the first wave of the VOICE study (n = 7765), a longitudinal web-based survey study among healthcare workers in Germany, we assessed symptoms of depression (PHQ-2) and generalized anxiety (GAD-2), social support (ENRICHD Social Support Inventory; ESSI), and generalized optimism as well as sociodemographic, occupational, and COVID-19 related variables. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between the constructs. Results: The analyses revealed that higher levels of social support and optimism were associated with lower levels of depression and generalized anxiety. They showed a higher association with depression and generalized anxiety than demographic or occupational risk factors such as female gender and direct contact with infected individuals. Conclusion: Psychosocial resources such as social support and optimism appear to contribute to successful coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and should be considered in future studies.

Highlights

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic burdens societies worldwide.In this context, research has found increased mental distress in the general population of many countries, such as China [1], Italy [2], and Germany [1,3]
As optimism and social support have received very little attention in the research about protective factors and resources of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, this study aims to clarify their role in promoting mental health alongside possible risk factors such as female gender, change of work department, direct contact with COVID-19 infected patients and a preexisting illness
Between 20 April and 5 July 2020, a web-based survey was conducted as the first measurement of the prospective VOICE study that is part of the egePan Unimed project supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic burdens societies worldwide In this context, research has found increased mental distress in the general population of many countries, such as China [1], Italy [2], and Germany [1,3]. Risk and protective factors for depression and generalized anxiety in healthcare workers need to be identified to protect their health and ability to work. Social support and optimism are known protective psychosocial resources, but have not been adequately studied in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in Germany. Results: The analyses revealed that higher levels of social support and optimism were associated with lower levels of depression and generalized anxiety. Conclusion: Psychosocial resources such as social support and optimism appear to contribute to successful coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and should be considered in future studies

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