A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Mental Wellbeing, Coping and Quality of Working Life in Health and Social Care Workers in the UK at Two Time Points of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Paula McFadden,
Ruth D. Neill,
John Moriarty,
Patricia Gillen,
John Mallett,
Jill Manthorpe,
Denise Currie,
Heike Schroder,
Jermaine Ravalier,
Patricia Nicholl,
Daniel McFadden,
Jana Ross
Affiliations
Paula McFadden
School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
Ruth D. Neill
School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
John Moriarty
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, 69–71 University Street, Belfast BT7 1HL, UK
Patricia Gillen
School of Nursing, Jordanstown Campus, Ulster University, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
John Mallett
School of Psychology, Coleraine Campus, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
Jill Manthorpe
NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London, London, 22 Kingsway, Holborn, London WC2B 6LE, UK
Denise Currie
Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast, Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5EE, UK
Heike Schroder
Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast, Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5EE, UK
Jermaine Ravalier
School of Science, Bath Spa University, Newton Park, Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BN, UK
Patricia Nicholl
School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
Daniel McFadden
School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
Jana Ross
School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve around the world, it is important to examine its effect on societies and individuals, including health and social care (HSC) professionals. The aim of this study was to compare cross-sectional data collected from HSC staff in the UK at two time points during the COVID-19 pandemic: Phase 1 (May–July 2020) and Phase 2 (November 2020–January 2021). The HSC staff surveyed consisted of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, social care workers and social workers from across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland). Multiple regressions were used to examine the effects of different coping strategies and demographic and work-related variables on participants’ wellbeing and quality of working life to see how and if the predictors changed over time. An additional multiple regression was used to directly examine the effects of time (Phase 1 vs. Phase 2) on the outcome variables. Findings suggested that both wellbeing and quality of working life deteriorated from Phase 1 to Phase 2. The results have the potential to inform interventions for HSC staff during future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, other infectious outbreaks or even other circumstances putting long-term pressures on HSC systems.
