COVID-19 anxiety among front-line nurses: Predictive role of organisational support, personal resilience and social support

J Nurs Manag. 2020 Oct;28(7):1653-1661. doi: 10.1111/jonm.13121. Epub 2020 Aug 21.

Abstract

Aim: This study examines the relative influence of personal resilience, social support and organisational support in reducing COVID-19 anxiety in front-line nurses.

Background: Anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic is prevalent in the nursing workforce, potentially affecting nurses' well-being and work performance. Identifying factors that could help maintain mental health and reduce coronavirus-related anxiety among front-line nurses is imperative. Currently, no studies have been conducted examining the influence of personal resilience, social support and organisational support in reducing COVID-19 anxiety among nurses.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 325 registered nurses from the Philippines using four standardized scales.

Results: Of the 325 nurses in the study, 123 (37.8%) were found to have dysfunctional levels of anxiety. Using multiple linear regression analyses, social support (β = -0.142, p = .011), personal resilience (β = -0.151, p = .008) and organisational support (β = -0.127, p = .023) predicted COVID-19 anxiety. Nurse characteristics were not associated with COVID-19 anxiety.

Conclusions: Resilient nurses and those who perceived higher organisational and social support were more likely to report lower anxiety related to COVID-19.

Implication for nursing management: COVID-19 anxiety may be addressed through organisational interventions, including increasing social support, assuring adequate organisational support, providing psychological and mental support services and providing resilience-promoting and stress management interventions.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; anxiety; coronavirus; nursing; organisational support; resilience; social support.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • COVID-19 / nursing*
  • COVID-19 / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nurses / organization & administration
  • Nurses / psychology*
  • Occupational Stress / epidemiology
  • Occupational Stress / etiology*
  • Occupational Stress / psychology
  • Philippines / epidemiology
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Social Support*