Protective Factors, Stress and Anxiety Effects on the Resilience Levels of Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated how protective factors, stress and anxiety levels affect the resilience levels of healthcare workers (HCWs) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific aims included examining whether resilience levels among HCWs vary significantly based on demographic variables. Methods: A total of 303 HCWs from two training and research hospitals completed the survey. Protective Factors for Resilience Scale (PFRS), The Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics–9 Items Scale, and Brief Resilience Scale were used as data collection tools. Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analyses, construct validity analysis, discriminant validity analysis, structural equation modelling, t-test and ANOVA were conducted respectively. Results: Only the impact of the individual sub-factor of PFRS on the resilience level of HCWs was positive and significant (b=.847, t= 8.670, p<.001); stress and anxiety levels of HCWs to viral epidemics on their resilience level were both insignificant (b= .039, t=-.468, p=.640; b= .095, t=1.073, p=.283). The resilience level of HCWs who were male (M=4.53, SD=.55), were married (M=4.50, SD=.55), had high school graduates (M=4.87, SD=.27), had 31 years and above experience (M=5.00, SD=.00), had children (M=4.54, SD=. 53), and exercised 2-3 days a week (M=4.54, SD=.46) had significantly higher levels of resilience. Conclusion: This study pointed out that individual protective factors (such as healthy skills and abilities) effect resilience of HCWs positively and play a crucial for the mental health of HCWs. HCWs who were man, married, low educated, more experienced, had children and doing sports 2-3 days a week had significantly higher resilience.