Work Experience Research Articles

Does ESG Affect Mental Health of Employees? Focusing on the Moderating Effects of Job Crafting and Relationship Conflict

This study examines the dark side of ESG, which has emerged as a new paradigm in that the con-cept is broad and must respond to stakeholder pressure. This study aims to conceptualize Envi-ronmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) stress, or the stress experienced by employees due to ESG, and empirically analyze its impact on mental health. We also examined the moderating effects of job crafting and relationship conflict using the job demand-resource model. Based on a survey of 228 ESG managers with at least five years of work experience, the results of the regres-sion analysis are as follows. First, ESG stress (ESG complexity and ESG uncertainty) was found to cause depression, a negative mental health outcome. Second, job creation was found to moderate depression caused by ESG stress (ESG complexity and ESG uncertainty). Third, relationship conflict was found to reinforce depression caused by ESG stress (ESG complexity and ESG uncertainty). This study is significant because it identifies the relationship between ESG stress and mental health, as ESG has become a requirement for corporate sustainability. Additionally, this study is expected to extend ESG research by examining the moderating effects of job crafting and relationship con-flict from the JD-R on ESG stress and mental health.

Deep learning approach to femoral AVN detection in digital radiography: differentiating patients and pre-collapse stages

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate a new deep-learning model for diagnosing avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) by analyzing pelvic anteroposterior digital radiography.MethodsThe study sample included 1167 hips. The radiographs were independently classified into 6 stages by a radiologist using their simultaneous MRIs. After that, the radiographs were given to train and test the deep learning models of the project including SVM and ANFIS layer using the Python programming language and TensorFlow library. In the last step, the test set of hip radiographs was provided to two independent radiologists with different work experiences to compare their diagnosis performance to the deep learning models’ performance using the F1 score and Mcnemar test analysis.ResultsThe performance of SVM for AVNFH detection (AUC = 82.88%) was slightly higher than less experienced radiologists (79.68%) and slightly lower than experienced radiologists (88.4%) without reaching significance (p-value > 0.05). Evaluation of the performance of SVM for pre-collapse AVNFH detection with an AUC of 73.58% showed significantly higher performance than less experienced radiologists (AUC = 60.70%, p-value < 0.001). On the other hand, no significant difference is noted between experienced radiologists and SVM for pre-collapse detection. ANFIS algorithm for AVNFH detection with an AUC of 86.60% showed significantly higher performance than less experienced radiologists (AUC = 79.68%, p-value = 0.04). Although reaching less performance compared to experienced radiologists statistically not significant (AUC = 88.40%, p-value = 0.20).ConclusionsOur study has shed light on the remarkable capabilities of SVM and ANFIS as diagnostic tools for AVNFH detection in radiography. Their ability to achieve high accuracy with remarkable efficiency makes them promising candidates for early detection and intervention, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Perceived vulnerability related to health in cancer post-treated adolescent in Iran: a content analysis

BackgroundThe prevalence of cancer is increasing, which significantly impacts the health and various aspects of the lives of cancer-post-treated adolescents. Adolescents with cancer have many negative consequences, including increased vulnerability. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perceived vulnerability of cancer-post-treated adolescents using a deep examination of experiences and perceptions of participants.MethodsThis study was conducted on 18 participants, who were selected based on purposive sampling in 2023 using a qualitative method through a content analysis approach in Iran. A face-to-face and semi-structured individual interview was used to collect data. Inclusion criteria were children aged 11–19 years, with no history of diseases except cancer, at least one year passed since their last treatment and were aware of their disease. Inclusion criteria for other participants were Parents of childhood cancer survivors whose child is under 19 years old. Health care providers that had at least one year of experience working with and caring for pediatric cancer survivors. The research objective, participation principle, and interview recording were explained to the participants before the interview started. The criteria of credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability were included to support the trustworthiness of data. The data was analyzed using the conventional qualitative content analysis method and MAXQDA10 software was used for data management.ResultsThe participants included 12 cancer-post-treated adolescents, two parents, two nurses, one doctor, and one cancer charity representative. The data analysis identified three categories: “Confusion in early adolescence”, “Psychological turmoil of disease”, and “Physical burden of the disease”. Finally, the latent content was formulated in to a “Perceived vulnerability” overarching theme.ConclusionIdentifying the patient’s perceptions and beliefs is one of the current health problems to improve the quality of life and facilitate the optimal transition from adolescence to adulthood and adult care. Health professionals have an opportunity to address factors that increase survivors’ sense of vulnerability to health problems by correcting knowledge gaps.

What are they considering when they face a fetus with birth defects? A qualitative study on ethical attitudes of health professionals in China

BackgroundBirth defects are the leading cause of mortality in newborn babies and children under five years old. In response, the Chinese government has implemented a three-tiered prevention strategy, which has brought ethical concerns about fetuses with birth defects. This study aims to explore the attitudes toward fetuses with birth defects among health professionals engaged in maternal and child health services.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted among 13 health professionals engaged in maternal and child health services in Hunan Province, China. The questions were designed to elicit the participants' work experience and attitudes toward fetuses with birth defects. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, and NVivo 12 was used for data coding and analysis. A thematic analysis approach was employed following the SRQR checklist.ResultsFive themes and 13 attributes were generated regarding health professionals' perspectives on fetuses with birth defects. The five themes included: (1) severity and curability of diseases (two attributes), (2) family relations (four attributes), (3) medical assessments (two attributes), (4) social situations (three attributes), (5) self-value orientations (three attributes). The findings showed that the majority of health professionals held the view that a fetus with a curable disease could be born, whereas a fetus with severe disability and teratogenesis should be terminated. Twelve out of the 13 health professionals believed that parents should be the decision-makers, while only one thought that the family should make a decision together.ConclusionsAttitudes toward birth defects were influenced by various factors, indicating the complexity of real-world cases identified in this study. The findings highlight the dilemmas faced by both families and health professionals regarding birth defects. Adequate medical knowledge and support from society are crucial to inform decision-making among family members. Additionally, standardized norms and policies for birth defects are needed. Establishing an ethics committee for prenatal diagnosis is necessary to address current ethical issues in this field.

Norwegian Health Professionals’ Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health with People with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract Introduction Staff working with individuals with intellectual disabilities face challenges addressing sexual health. Professionals in this context have diverse backgrounds and education, and little is known about their attitudes and skills in providing support for a healthy sexual life and preventing abuse. Moreover, this topic has not been explored in the Norwegian context. The current study examined health professionals’ attitudes toward addressing sexual health with individuals with intellectual disabilities in Norwegian municipal health and care services. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Norwegian version of the professionals’ attitudes toward addressing sexual health among 72 health professionals working in municipal services for people with intellectual disabilities in Mid-Norway. The data was collected from November 2022 to January 2023. Results The professionals reported feeling partially comfortable and prepared to address sexual health issues with clients. They consistently expressed a need for more basic knowledge about sexual health and training in communicating about sexuality. Attitudes toward addressing sexual health varied based on the professionals’ education, gender, age, and work experience. Conclusions More targeted training on sexual health is needed within the educational programmes in health and social sciences. Sexual health should also be continuously addressed in the workplace and among colleagues. The differences in attitudes between professionals indicate that the composition of the staff benefits from diversity. Policy Implications Healthcare managers are responsible for ensuring greater openness and reflection on attitudes toward sexuality among individuals with intellectual disabilities in workplaces. Educational institutions must provide the necessary skill development and training in communication about sexual health for this client group.

“Emerging Occupational Risks in a Pharmaceutical Company Under Industry 4.0: An Assessment Using TICHNER and HIRAC Tools”

Abstract: The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector aligns with broader industrial objectives, aiming to enhance productivity and adaptability while meeting challenging standards for product quality and diversity while maximizing efficiency. However, this shift is not risk-free. This particularly concerns the well-being of workers which is one of the top concerns shared by manufacturers. As the industry navigates this transition, it is imperative to prioritize the safety of personnel. The rapid pace of technological innovation within pharmaceutical manufacturing carries significant implications, introducing new and emerging risks. Consequently, proactive identification and assessment of these potential threats are essential to effectively mitigate their impact and ensure preparedness for forthcoming changes. To address this gap, this study provides an approach for identifying potential sources and significant factors contributing to its increasing risks in implementing Industry 4.0 in manufacturing industries. This set of sources and factors was evaluated in a medium-sized pharmaceutical manufacturing company aided by TICHNER and HIRAC Tools through a mixed-method approach. The combination of these tools facilitates the identification, characterization, and analysis of new and emerging risks associated with Industry 4.0 implementation. The findings of the study showed that Psychosocial Hazards and Work Experience/ Knowledge are the most common potential sources of Psychological Risks, Unemployment, and Need for Qualified Workers. The approach will allow manufacturers to proactively manage the new and emerging challenges brought by Industry 4.0 and safeguard the well-being of the workforce.

Prevalence and characteristics of the 'bad feeling' among healthcare professionals in the context of emergency situations: A Bi-Hospital Survey.

Clinical decision-making is based on objective and subjective criteria, including healthcare workers impressions and feelings. This research examines the perception and implications of a 'bad feeling' experienced by healthcare professionals, focusing on its prevalence and characteristics. A cross-sectional paper-based survey was conducted from January to July 2023 at the University Medicine Greifswald and the hospital Sömmerda involving physicians, nurses, medical students and trainees from various specialties. With ethics committee approval, participants were recruited and surveyed at regular clinical events. Data analysis was performed using SPSS® Statistics. The manuscript was written using the Strobe checklist. Out of 250 questionnaires distributed, 217 were valid for analysis after a 94.9% return rate and subsequent exclusions. Sixty-five per cent of respondents experience the 'bad feeling' occasionally to frequently. There was a significant positive correlation between the frequency of 'bad feeling' and work experience. The predominant cause of this feeling was identified as intuition, reported by 79.8% of participants, with 80% finding it often helpful in their clinical judgement. Notably, in 16.1% of cases, the 'bad feeling' escalated in the further clinical course into an actual emergency. Furthermore, 60% of respondents indicated that this feeling occasionally or often serves as an early indicator of a potential, yet unrecognised, emergency in patient care. This study demonstrates the relevance of clinical experience to decision-making. As an expression of this, there is a correlation between the frequency of a 'bad feeling' and the number of years of experience. It is recommended that the 'bad feeling' be deliberately acknowledged and reinforced as an early warning signal for emergency situations, given its significant implications for patient safety. Future initiatives could include advanced training and research, as well as tools such as pocket maps, to better equip healthcare professionals in responding to this intuition.

요양보호사의 근무환경이 직무만족에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the mediating effect of job enthusiasm in the relationship between the work environment and job satisfaction of the nursing care workers who work in long-term care homes for the elderly. Methods This study conducted a survey on 330 caregivers working at long-term care facilities for the elderly in Yeongdong-gun, and analyzed the collected questionnaire data using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0 statistical programs. Results First, out of the working environment factors of nursing care workers at long-term care homes, all of them, namely the human environment, physical environment, reward systems, and job expertise factors, had a significant and positive impact on job enthusiasm. Second, of the work environment factors of the nursing care workers of long-term care homes, the physical environment and reward system factors had a significant and positive impact on job satisfaction. Third, the job enthusiasm of the nursing care workers at long-term care homes turned out to have a similarly significant and positive impact on job satisfaction. Fourth, in the relationship between work environment factors of nursing care workers at long-term care homes, such as the human environment, physical environment, reward system, job expertise, and job satisfaction, it was shown that, upon all of these factors, job enthusiasm had a significant mediating effect. Fifth, with regard to the groups where the work experience was less than five years and those of five years or longer, the difference between these two groups was confirmed in the paths of [reward system→job enthusiasm], [reward system→job satisfaction], [job enthusiasm→job satisfaction]. Conclusions This study is significant in that it identified the working environment of nursing care workers and sought specific action plans to increase job satisfaction by increasing job enthusiasm.

The Impact of the Internship Programme on Students in A Selected Public Higher Institution in The Eastern Cape, South Africa

It is important to note from the outset that the duty of preparing students for careers rests with the educational community. Internship before graduation appears to offer students experiential learning, better opportunities for employment and better knowledge of real work environments. The institutions benefit by obtaining more resources at a lower expense as well as a chance to assess whether the intern will fit in well with the team and the role. The majority of students graduate from university or college and struggle to find jobs due to lack of experience and exposure to the working environment. The study sought to assess the effect of internship on students in public institutions. The study used a qualitative research approach, through semi-structured interviews, and respondents were approached through purposive sampling technique. The results of the study show that internships are favourable to students, universities, organisations and result in more job offers and quicker employability of interns. It further states that internships involve some investigation into the characteristics of students who will be employed by institutions in future through internship programmes. Finally, the study revealed that internships provide better opportunities for graduates and unemployed students by exposing them to their chosen field, either in unpaid or paid internship programmes. The study recommends that universities must create more internships to ensure that students are equipped with skills and gain positive and required experience in field work.

FORMATION OF COMPETENCE OF FITNESS AND RECREATION SPECIALISTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The relevance of the study is the challenges of the fitness industry in recent times. Having suffered significant losses due to quarantine restrictions and the continuation of military operations on the territory of Ukraine, priority directions for the development of fitness and recreation were determined. These vectors require interested organizations and heads of higher education institutions of physical culture and health profile to take into account the modern demand of the population for fitness and recreational services and to contribute to the development of a system of training relevant personnel. The purpose of this work is to study the state and modern requirements for the training of fitness and recreation specialists in higher education institutions. Methods: theoretical analysis of literary sources, questionnaires, pedagogical observations, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. According to the results of the study, regarding the determination of the professional training of masters of the Institute of Health Care, it was possible to state that only in 9.43 % of respondents found a basic level of fitness skills, 13.2 % of higher education graduates have a threshold level, and 77.37 % have not developed clear abilities for professional growth, which does not allow them to effectively carry out fitness and recreational activities. According to the results of a survey of fitness clubs administrations in Rivne and Vinnytsia, the categories of specialists that are most needed in the fitness industry today are determined:51 % are fitness trainers, 22 % – service sales manager, 21 % – marketers, 6 % are administrators. As a result, it was possible to establish that the respondents give preference to a specialist with an educational and qualification level when selecting personnel: specialist junior bachelor – 24 %, bachelor – 33 %, master’s degree – 36 %, 7 % believe that the level of education is not important. In addition, the majority of respondents give preference to specialists with up to 3 years of work experience – 16 %, from 3 to 5 years – 60 %, over 10 years – 24 %. Based on the analysis of the state of training of fitness and recreation specialists, we have proposed a technology for the formation of fitness and recreation competence in future specialists. Conclusions: the state and requirements for quality training of fitness and recreation specialists to satisfy the requests of service consumers are determined.

“Locate the Law” activity: Evaluating student pharmacists' ability to locate and use legal resources

ObjectivePharmacy students must be able to locate and use legal resources to prepare for licensure and be practice-ready. We aimed to assess pharmacy students’ ability and confidence in locating and using publicly available legal resources. MethodsThe “Locate the Law” activity was implemented in a pharmacy law course in the fall of 2021, 2022, and 2023 for third-year pharmacy students at 1 college of pharmacy in the Mid-South. The activity consisted of a 108-question (61 law questions) survey that evaluated the students’ confidence before and after they were required to locate publicly available legal resources online and answer a set of guided questions about each resource. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to evaluate student responses. The University of Tennessee Institutional Review Board approved this study. ResultsA total of 363 students participated in the study (response rate: 77%) over a 3-year period. Most students were female (67%), on average 25 years old, and reported having pharmacy work experience (95%). Before the activity, students reported being slight to somewhat confident in finding a statute (mean [M]: 2.5) or regulation (M: 2.5). Most graded question responses averaged ≥ 90%, and no question scored below a 75% average. After the activity, students’ confidence increased significantly increased in finding a statute (M: 4.1) or regulation (M: 4.1). ConclusionThe “Locate the Law” activity significantly improved student pharmacists’ self-reported confidence in locating publicly available legal resources, and most students correctly answered most activity questions. Pharmacy law educators should consider incorporating training on using legal resources in the pharmacy law course.

Breaking barriers: female and Hispanic undergraduate students experience gains in self-confidence and tolerance for obstacles during a sustainability-centered internship program in the USA

AbstractPrevious research has shown that female and Hispanic students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) face more educational barriers than their non-Hispanic, male peers. However, little research has been conducted on the effects of intersectional identities in the STEM space. In an effort to bridge the gap in underrepresented students' experience, the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies organizes a paid, interdisciplinary, team-based, experiential learning and internship program called the Green Teams that occurs during 10 weeks of the summer. The Green Teams Program strives to provide undergraduate students from all backgrounds–academically, economically, and demographically–an opportunity to develop their abilities in STEM fields and prepare them to enter the professional world. Based upon a survey given post-internship, self-reported learning gains for all students were analyzed to determine if the program had a significantly greater impact on students who are from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM in their STEM-related learning gains and their confidence in STEM disciplines. Through t-tests, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and a 2-way factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Hispanic and female participants were found to report significantly higher learning gains than their counterparts in multiple STEM areas from increased tolerance for obstacles to gains in self confidence. The results of the study suggest Hispanic and female students benefit from paid work experiences in STEM with diverse peers and intentional, supportive mentoring. This research on the Green Teams Program provides insight into how this approach positively impacts STEM education of individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM. The findings may help to further guide the development of the Green Teams Program and the adoption of paid, interdisciplinary, team-based, experiential learning and internship experiences in additional academic STEM settings.

Cognate Work Experience, Subject Background and Technical Skills of Cataloguers in Nigerian Libraries

Cognate Work Experience, Subject Background and Technical Skills of Cataloguers in Nigerian Libraries

Interactional competencies in medical student admission- what makes a "good medical doctor"?

Doctors' interactional competencies play a crucial role in patient satisfaction, well-being, and compliance. Accordingly, it is in medical schools' interest to select candidates with strong interactional abilities. While Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) provide a useful context to assess such abilities, the evaluation of candidate performance during MMIs is not always based on a solid theoretical framework. The newly developed selection procedure "Interactional Competencies - Medical Doctors (IC-MD)" uses an MMI circuit with five simulation patient scenarios and is rated based on the theoretically and empirically grounded construct of emotional availability. A first validation study with N = 70 first-semester medical students took place in 2021. In terms of convergent validity, IC-MD ratings showed strong correlations with simulation patients' satisfaction with the encounter (r =.57) but no association with emotional intelligence measures. IC-MD ratings were not related to high school performance or a cognitive student aptitude test, indicating divergent validity. Inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.63) and generalizability (Eρ2 = 0.64) were satisfactory. The IC-MD proved to be fair regarding participants' age and gender. Participants with prior work experience in healthcare outperformed those without such experience. Participant acceptance of the procedure were good. The IC-MD is a promising selection procedure capable of assessing interactional competencies relevant to the medical setting. Measures of interactional competencies can complement the use of cognitive selection criteria in medical student admission. The predictive validity of the IC-MD needs to be addressed in future studies.

Effective Teaching Methods in Physical Education Classes: A pilot study implementing a new survey for teachers

Physical education (PE) classes for children play a crucial role in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle. The PE in the Kosovo primary schools, together with its teaching and organizational issues have long been a key topic of political, sport and scientific debate. However, the various actions carried out so far have not been enough to recognize contents and methods of PE correctly oriented in an educational way. The aim of the study is to highlight the latest method and strategies of the teachers, and the new curriculum used in the field of PE for better learning and developing health among children through physical activity. The research involved (n = 100) PE teachers from Kosovo public schools. All teachers are from Kosovo primary schools, classes VI-IX, with an average of 16 years of work experience. Data was collected using questionnaire by an online survey. The learning methods mostly applied are: practical learning method (96%), teaching through lectures (79%), interactive method (72%), effective teaching method (66%), learning through certain goals (47%). The factors that influence the effective use of teaching strategies are: infrastructure and equipment (94%), teacher skills (89%), competitive activities among children (57%), and children’s desire for physical and sports activities (46%). The factors that can influence the increase in the effectiveness of teaching strategies are: the addition of teaching hours (92%) teacher trainings (84%) and curricular improvements (78%). Teaching methods help teachers to have an effective communication with students, clear instructions, demonstrations, and techniques being taught.

Social Educators’ initial and in-service training: community projects as promoters of professional development

ABSTRACT Promoting social justice, fighting against social inequalities, and minimizing the risks and dangers faced by society’s most vulnerable groups are the aims of socio-educational intervention actions promoted by Social Educators in community projects. Using a qualitative and interpretative case study research methodology, this study sought to understand, from the perspective of Social Educators (n = 13) who graduated from a university in the north of Portugal between 2018 and 2022, how and if the experience of working in a community project during initial and in-service training enriches and/or alters their work. The results showed that the participation of Social Educators in community projects deconstructs an excessively individualistic view of intervention, with Social Educators highlighting the social and educational conditions that shape the target audiences in an action that is required to be holistic and legitimized by the members of the communities in which they operate.

Understanding the Social Worker Experience with Organizational Changes in HSOs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Drawing on Lewin’s three-stage change theory (i.e. unfreezing, changing, and refreezing), this study explored social workers’ experience with organizational changes in human service organizations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using secondary data from a cross-sectional survey (June–August 2020). Responses for 2447 participants (78.5%) who answered the open-ended question, “How have services, functions or operations changed in response to COVID-19?” were thematically coded. Four overarching themes were identified and discussed: (1) changes to organization capacity; (2) technology/infrastructure and workers arrangements; (3) workplace safety; and (4) impact on clients and workers.

Optimization Path for Employment-oriented Training of Computer Majors in Higher Vocational Education

This article proposes an optimization path for the employment-oriented demand in the training of computer professionals in vocational colleges. A series of improvement measures have been proposed by analyzing the current situation. Firstly, focus on optimizing the practical teaching process and increasing internship opportunities for cooperation with enterprises, to enhance students’ practical skills and work experience. Secondly, strengthen the cultivation of soft skills, including communication and teamwork abilities, and cultivate students’ ability to adapt to the real working environment. At the same time, establish a close integration model between industry and education, offer courses closely related to the needs of enterprises, and improve the employment competitiveness of graduates. Finally, teachers should encourage students to participate in project practice, cultivate the ability to solve practical problems, pay attention to industry development trends, and flexibly adjust teaching content. Through these measures, it is expected to better meet the demand for high-quality talents in the computer industry, and enhance the employment competitiveness and career adaptability of graduates.

Research on the Reformation and Innovation of College Student Council Work in the New Media Environment

Promoting the work of the college student council aims to strengthen the ideological and political education of college students and guide them to establish correct values. Universities should exert great importance on the transformation of work content and methods in the new media environment, continuously innovate work concepts, and adopt work models that are suitable for the development needs and laws of contemporary college students to guide them to learn advanced ideas and face various challenges from life, learning, and even future work. Based on this, this article first analyzes the impact of new media on the work of college student councils, and the innovative ideas it brings. Then, it summarizes relevant work experience and proposes feasible reformation and innovation paths for college council work.

Evaluation of the effects of pandemic-related fears on anxiety and depression: the mediating roles of traumatic stress and loneliness

BackgroundThe detrimental mental health effects which emerged from COVID-19 have profoundly affected healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of traumatic stress and loneliness on the fears of contracting and dying from COVID-19, and anxiety and depression of HCWs during the pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was completed by HCWs in a province of Turkey. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Impact of Events Scale-Revised and numerical rating scales (for fears of COVID-19 and loneliness) were used and a bootstrap approach was used in the analyses with SPSS PROCESS macro software.ResultsOf the HCWs evaluated, 150 (34.4%) were doctors, with a mean duration of work experience of 10.6 ± 7.5 years. The results indicated that fear of contracting COVID-19 was directly related to anxiety (β = 0.244, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.135, p < 0.01) and that traumatic stress and loneliness mediated the relationships between the fear of contracting COVID-19 and anxiety (β = 0.435, p < 0.001; β = 0.235, p < 0.001, respectively) and depression (β = 0.365, p < 0.001; β = 0.294, p < 0.001, respectively). The fear of dying from COVID-19 was determined to be directly associated with anxiety (β = 0.190, p < 0.001) but not with depression (β = 0.066, p = 0.116), and traumatic stress and loneliness mediated the relationships between the fear of dying from COVID-19 and anxiety (β = 0.476, p < 0.001; β = 0.259, p < 0.001, respectively) and depression (β = 0.400, p < 0.001; β = 0.311, p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsThe study results demonstrated the important roles of traumatic stress and loneliness in exacerbating the negative consequences of fears of COVID-19 on anxiety and depression, and provide insights for identifying HCWs at greater risk.