AUTHOR=Bidzan Monika , Bidzan-Bluma Ilona , Szulman-Wardal Aleksandra , Stueck Marcus , Bidzan Mariola 

TITLE=Does Self-Efficacy and Emotional Control Protect Hospital Staff From COVID-19 Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms? Psychological Functioning of Hospital Staff After the Announcement of COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.552583

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.552583

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objectives</title><p>The aim of this study was to assess coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the hospital staff, as well as to identify protective factors of COVID-19 anxiety once the coronavirus pandemic was announced in Poland.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>90 healthcare workers from the hospital in Poland completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing self-efficacy, emotional control, and PTSD symptoms; a questionnaire assessing COVID-19 anxiety; and a socio-demographic questionnaire. A multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the effects of gender, being directly vs indirectly exposed to patients, and general self-efficacy on COVID-19 anxiety.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The analysis showed that female (<italic>β</italic> = −0.271, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) healthcare professionals indirectly exposed to patients (<italic>β</italic> = −0.336, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) and those who reported lower levels of general self-efficacy (<italic>β</italic> = −0.295, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) have a stronger tendency to experience COVID-19 anxiety [<italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.301, <italic>F</italic>(3,89) = 12.34, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01].</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The findings show the importance of self-efficacy for dealing with COVID-19 anxiety. The internal coping strategies should be introduced to healthcare workers.</p></sec>