Comparing Psychological Wellbeing and Work-Related Quality of Life between Professional Groups within Health and Social Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK
Ruth D. Neill,
Patricia Gillen,
John Moriarty,
Jill Manthorpe,
John Mallett,
Heike Schroder,
Denise Currie,
Patricia Nicholl,
Jermaine Ravalier,
Susan McGrory,
Paula McFadden
Affiliations
Ruth D. Neill
School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
Patricia Gillen
School of Nursing, Jordanstown Campus, Ulster University, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
John Moriarty
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, 69–71 University Street, Belfast BT7 1HL, UK
Jill Manthorpe
NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London, 22 Kingsway, Holborn, London WC2B 6LE, UK
John Mallett
School of Psychology, Coleraine Campus, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
Heike Schroder
Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast, Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5EE, UK
Denise Currie
Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast, Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5EE, UK
Patricia Nicholl
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, 69–71 University Street, Belfast BT7 1HL, UK
Jermaine Ravalier
School of Science, Bath Spa University, Newton Park, Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BN, UK
Susan McGrory
School of Nursing, Jordanstown Campus, Ulster University, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
Paula McFadden
School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
This paper shared the compared results on the psychological wellbeing and work-related quality of life amongst health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Health and social care professionals within nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social care and social work occupations working in the United Kingdom (UK) during the pandemic were recruited. Repeated cross-sectional online surveys were conducted during two time periods of the pandemic (May–July 2020 and May−July 2021). A total of 4803 respondents completed the survey. The findings revealed that over the pandemic, psychological wellbeing (SWEWBS measure) and work-related quality of life (WRQoL scale) scores significantly decreased in all five occupations (p p < 0.001) use of negative coping strategies such as behavioural disengagement and substance usage. Analysis of variance revealed a statistical difference between occupations and wellbeing across 2020 and 2021, while work-related quality of life was only statistically significantly different in 2021. The findings revealed that due to this decrease, there is a distinct need for more support services and flexible working conditions within health and social care services, to improve wellbeing and work-related quality of life.
