Mental health and coping profiles during the first waves of COVID-19: Insights from an Italian hospital

Abstract

COVID-19 had a profound impact on the quality of life of millions of employees, especially those on the front lines of the pandemic. This study examines the mental health of Italian hospital employees during the first two waves of the crisis, assessing key indicators such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and depression. Given the limited research on individual coping factors, we also explored how different strategies influenced professional quality of life by employing a person-centered approach. Using a repeated cross-sectional design, we collected data from two samples of healthcare employees. Findings revealed a significant decline in mental health over time, with higher levels of burnout, depression, anxiety, and secondary traumatic stress, and lower compassion satisfaction, at wave 2. Latent Profile Analysis identified three coping profiles: Resigned, Avoidant, and Proactive. The Resigned and Avoidant profiles were linked to the poorest mental health outcomes, with Avoidant coping showing the most severe negative effects. These results underscore the importance of fostering adaptive coping strategies and addressing maladaptive ones to protect healthcare employees' mental health during ongoing and future crises.