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. 2022 Mar 4:12:749763.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.749763. eCollection 2021.

Nurse Adaptability and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effects of Family and Perceived Organizational Support

Mona Cockerham  1 , Margaret E Beier  2 , Sandy Branson  3 , Lisa Boss  3
Affiliations

Nurse Adaptability and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effects of Family and Perceived Organizational Support

Mona Cockerham et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of family and perceived organizational support on the relationship between nurse adaptability and their experience with COVID-related PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms in frontline nurses working on COVID-19 units.

Background: Proximity to and survival of life-threatening events contribute to a diagnosis of PTSD, which is characterized by avoidance of reminders of trauma, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks of events, sleep disturbances, and hypervigilance. Using the job-demands and resource model, we examined the effect of adaptability, family support, and perceived organizational support on PTSD symptoms for nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we tested whether perceptions of environmental supports-i.e., family and organizational support-moderated the relationship between nurse adaptability and COVID-related PTSD symptoms.

Methods: A sample of frontline nurses working on COVID-19 units during the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas (N = 277) participated in this cross-sectional, observational study. Frontline Nurses reported demographic information and completed surveys designed to measure adaptability, perceived organizational support, family support, and COVID-related PTSD symptoms.

Results: Adaptability was significantly positively correlated (medium effects) to perceived organizational and family support (r = 0.51 and 0.56, respectively, p < 0.01). Adaptability and perceived organizational support were also negatively correlated with COVID-related PTSD symptoms (medium effects). Adaptability was negatively correlated with COVID-related PTSD symptoms, supporting Hypothesis 1 (r = -0.43, p < 0.01). Perceived organizational support was also significantly negatively correlated with COVID-19-related PTSD symptoms (r = -0.30, p < 0.01). Family support was not significantly correlated with COVID-related PTSD but was positively related to experiencing COVID-related PTSD after other variables were accounted for.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that individual adaptability and organizational support may reduce PTSD severity in frontline nurses working during a crisis; however, family support may increase PTSD symptoms. We provide suggestions for strengthening individual adaptability and healthcare leadership including remaining highly engaged to show support by providing rapid communication, remaining calm during difficult circumstances, and maintaining a consistent, physical presence during difficult times. Moreover, our results suggest additional support for nurses with families to adapt to crisis.

Keywords: Coronavirus; PTSD; adaptability; family support; nurses; perceived organizational support.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
COVID-19 new cases (Panel A) and deaths (Panel B) in Texas between March and September 2020 (Wave 1). Data for this study were collected from March through July, August, and September 2020 are shown for comparison.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Graphical depiction of study hypotheses and variables. PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Interaction between adaptability and perceived organizational support (POS) on COVID-19-PTSD symptoms.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Interaction between adaptability and family support on COVID-19-PTSD symptoms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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