The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review
The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic heavily distressed healthcare workers from around the world, with issues ranging from a lack of supplies and medication to panic surrounding public outbreaks. The consistent rise in infection and mortality rates, lack of specif...
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| Language: | English |
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Academia.edu Journals
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Academia Mental Health & Well-Being |
| Online Access: | https://www.academia.edu/128184295/The_psychological_impact_on_American_healthcare_workers_during_the_COVID_19_pandemic_an_initial_scoping_review |
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| author | Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla Maryam Azeem Varsha Kumaravel Vedasree Keerthi Machiraju Mary Nguyen Riley A. Decker Sameera Pasham Srija Doma Ridhi Pendyala Vinitha Shanmugam Stephanie E. Waggel |
| author_facet | Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla Maryam Azeem Varsha Kumaravel Vedasree Keerthi Machiraju Mary Nguyen Riley A. Decker Sameera Pasham Srija Doma Ridhi Pendyala Vinitha Shanmugam Stephanie E. Waggel |
| author_sort | Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic heavily distressed healthcare workers from around the world, with issues ranging from a lack of supplies and medication to panic surrounding public outbreaks. The consistent rise in infection and mortality rates, lack of specific medications and vaccines, extensive media coverage, massive workload, lack of personal protective equipment, and feelings of inadequate support all can contribute to the mental burden that healthcare staff endure. In these situations, healthcare workers are not only expected to work long hours but are also expected to work under overwhelming amounts of pressure. They are also at significant risk of being infected when treating ill patients. This review was designed to investigate the current literature on how the COVID-19 outbreak contributed to mental health symptoms among healthcare workers, specifically highlighting the importance of support from leadership and compared results between genders. The overall trends found specifically after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 21 studies reviewed included increased levels of psychological distress and depression in younger age groups and in women compared to men, increased burnout (which led to decreased resilience), decreased perceived hospital leadership support, and occupational differences, with nurses reporting higher rates of stress. This qualitative literature review aims to highlight the critical mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify effective strategies for providing support and interventions. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive support systems and interventions to address the mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals, thereby ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of the healthcare system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e58add571704df7897b63d24e638e3d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2997-9196 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Academia.edu Journals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Academia Mental Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e58add571704df7897b63d24e638e3d2025-08-20T01:56:49ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Mental Health & Well-Being2997-91962025-03-012110.20935/MHealthWellB7570The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping reviewSri Vaishnavi Konagalla0Maryam Azeem1Varsha Kumaravel2Vedasree Keerthi Machiraju3Mary Nguyen4Riley A. Decker5Sameera Pasham6Srija Doma7Ridhi Pendyala8Vinitha Shanmugam9Stephanie E. Waggel10Department of Biology, Nova Southeastern University, Davie Campus, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA.Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Monroe Park Campus, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.College of Osteopathic Medicine, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh Campus, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Health Science Campus, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.Department of Kinesiology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Colgate University, Hamilton Campus, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA.Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburg Campus, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.Department of Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Monroe Park Campus, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Campus, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg Campus, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.Improve Life PLLC, Reston, VA 20190, USA. The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic heavily distressed healthcare workers from around the world, with issues ranging from a lack of supplies and medication to panic surrounding public outbreaks. The consistent rise in infection and mortality rates, lack of specific medications and vaccines, extensive media coverage, massive workload, lack of personal protective equipment, and feelings of inadequate support all can contribute to the mental burden that healthcare staff endure. In these situations, healthcare workers are not only expected to work long hours but are also expected to work under overwhelming amounts of pressure. They are also at significant risk of being infected when treating ill patients. This review was designed to investigate the current literature on how the COVID-19 outbreak contributed to mental health symptoms among healthcare workers, specifically highlighting the importance of support from leadership and compared results between genders. The overall trends found specifically after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 21 studies reviewed included increased levels of psychological distress and depression in younger age groups and in women compared to men, increased burnout (which led to decreased resilience), decreased perceived hospital leadership support, and occupational differences, with nurses reporting higher rates of stress. This qualitative literature review aims to highlight the critical mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify effective strategies for providing support and interventions. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive support systems and interventions to address the mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals, thereby ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of the healthcare system.https://www.academia.edu/128184295/The_psychological_impact_on_American_healthcare_workers_during_the_COVID_19_pandemic_an_initial_scoping_review |
| spellingShingle | Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla Maryam Azeem Varsha Kumaravel Vedasree Keerthi Machiraju Mary Nguyen Riley A. Decker Sameera Pasham Srija Doma Ridhi Pendyala Vinitha Shanmugam Stephanie E. Waggel The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review Academia Mental Health & Well-Being |
| title | The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review |
| title_full | The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review |
| title_fullStr | The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review |
| title_short | The psychological impact on American healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an initial scoping review |
| title_sort | psychological impact on american healthcare workers during the covid 19 pandemic an initial scoping review |
| url | https://www.academia.edu/128184295/The_psychological_impact_on_American_healthcare_workers_during_the_COVID_19_pandemic_an_initial_scoping_review |
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