Stoltenberg, Andrea Sem; (2022) The COVID-19 Wellbeing Study: Perceived Coercion and Psychological Wellbeing in Frontline Healthcare Workers. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

Preview

Text Stoltenberg_10156503_Thesis_sig_removed.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Aims. The aims of the present study are to establish the extent to which healthcare workers experienced perceived coercion and pressures in response to working on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether the level of perceived coercion and pressure predicted levels of psychological distress. Method. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in UK and Norway, including a scale development and validation study, to develop a context-appropriate perceived coercion scale (Study 1), and a sequential mixed-methods study consisting of asynchronous virtual focus groups (AVFG) and an online survey (Study 2). Results. An Exploratory Factor Analysis of the PPCS-HCW scale demonstrated three moderately correlated subscales: Internal Perceived Pressure, External Perceived Pressure and Perceived Coercion; this factor structure was confirmed in the Norway and UK groups. Four higher-order themes were identified from the qualitative data including an enhanced sense of responsibility, low perceived level of control, staff cohesion and social support, and ways of coping. Drawing on the themes of collegial support and coping strategies (i.e., avoidance coping) and further theoretical considerations, a conceptual path model of the association between perceived coercion and psychological distress with the inclusion of avoidance coping as a potential mediator and perceived social support as a potential moderator was tested. No direct effect of perceived coercion/pressures with psychological distress was found. Though no specific indirect effect was found for each of the perceived coercion subconstructs, a total indirect effect was found via avoidance coping and a moderated mediation effect was found for perceived coercion (subscale). This suggested that elevated avoidance coping mediated the association between greater perceived coercion and higher psychological distress, but only for individuals with low perceived social support. Discussion. The results highlight the importance of team cohesiveness and encouraging healthcare workers’ sense of agency by inclusion in planning and decision-making about their roles and responsibilities during health emergencies in order to promote positive coping strategies and psychological wellbeing.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as CSVXMLJSON

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item