Trainee Perspectives on Internship and Fellowship Training Experiences in Pediatric Health Service Psychology during a Global Pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT The impact of COVID-19 on the psychology training community has included modifications to internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs to assure the safety of patients, trainees, and staff. Studies assessing the impact of COVID-19 on training in health service psychology are emerging; however, few studies have provided the opportunity for psychology trainees to candidly report about their experiences during the ongoing pandemic. This paper aims to describe how the pandemic effected internship and fellowship training experiences from the trainee’s perspective. Participants included 58 trainees from pediatric psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship programs in the United States. A survey containing open- and close-ended questions was distributed to trainees via their training directors to assess training experiences during COVID-19. Qualitative analysis of responses revealed four themes describing 1) reduced depth and breadth of training opportunities, 2) social isolation and limited professional and personal support, 3) increased use of telepsychology and reduced in-person training, and 4) increased levels of stress and burnout combined with decreased morale. Many internship trainees described pandemic-related challenges to completion of dissertation, and postdoctoral fellows experienced altered or delayed professional trajectories due to financial, mental health, and career readiness factors. Implications and future directions include the need for increased support both professionally and personally for trainees who are completing internship and postdoctoral fellowship training in the midst of COVID-19.