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This study seeks to expand previous research by examining (a) the prevalence rates of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its potential predictors (posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], perceived stress, adaptive coping strategies, social support) during the first and second lockdown in the general population of Greece, and (b) the mediating role of the stress indicators (PTSS/perceived stress) in the relationship between positive reframing and PTG. A sample of 1,361 participants (1.009 in the first lockdown and 352 in the second lockdown) completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory and the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI). Moderate levels of PTG were found during both lockdowns. PTG did not significantly increase during the second lockdown. PTG was associated with PTSS during the first lockdown and with perceived stress during the second one; these two stress indicators partially mediated the positive reframing—PTG relationship in the first and second lockdown, respectively. Both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predicted PTG during the first lockdown, whereas only adaptive coping strategies predicted PTG during the second lockdown. Perceived social support, emotional during the first lockdown and instrumental during the second one, predicted PTG during the two lockdowns, respectively. The results of this study may enhance our understanding of PTG and its predictor to inform the design of interventions moving beyond growth cognitions into growth actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are repeatedly exposed to acute stress at their workplace, and therefore, they are at high risk for developing mental health symptoms. The prolonged exposure of healthcare professionals may lead to Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). STS is an aspect of "cost of care", the natural consequence of providing care to people who suffer physically or psychologically. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of STS in nurses during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece and to detect aggravating and protective factors. Participants were 222 nurses (87.4 % women; mean age 42.3 years) who completed an online survey. The questionnaire comprised of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory. Nurses had high levels of STS. The hierarchical regression analyses showed that STS and its dimensions Avoidance and Arousal were positively predicted mainly by denial and self-distraction coping strategies and inversely by resilience. Resilience exhibited a protective (partial mediation) effect on the strong relationship between the dissociative coping strategies (denial, self-distraction, venting and behavioral disengagement) and STS. Trauma-informed care psychosocial interventions are needed to support the already overburdened nursing staff during the coronavirus pandemic. • High levels of STS were found for nurses during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. • STS was positively predicted by denial and self-distraction coping strategies and inversely by resilience. • Findings confirmed the relationship between dissociation processes (captured using the dissociative coping strategies) and STS. • Resilience exhibited a protective effect on the strong relationship between the dissociative coping strategies and STS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have suggested that social workers being indirectly exposed to their patients’ COVID-19-related traumatic experiences may have both negative (i.e. secondary traumatic stress symptoms; STS) and positive psychological consequences (i.e. resilience and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG)). However, less is known about the coping strategies that they use to effectively respond to COVID-19-related challenges. The purpose of this study is to examine the coping strategies that social workers use and their differential association with VPTG, resilience, and STS. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of 133 social workers (86.7% women, mean age 38.1 ± 9.4 years). They completed the Brief COPE, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) to measure coping strategies, STS, resilience, and VPTG, respectively. Social workers demonstrated moderate levels of STS, VPTG, and resilience. Denial was associated with STS, positive reframing, planning, and self-blame (inversely) were associated with resilience, and instrumental support and religious coping were associated with VPTG. The results of this study provide insights on how healthcare policies and interventions can best support professionals during current and future pandemics by alleviating levels of STS and enhancing resilience and VPTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the potential facilitators of vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG; i.e., secondary traumatic stress symptoms--STS, resilience, coping strategies), the interspecialty differences in VPTG among medical (i.e., physicians and nurses) and nonmedical health care workers (HCWs; i.e., psychologists and social workers) across two consecutive lockdowns (T1 and T2), and the mediating role of the coping strategies in the STS-VPTG relationship. A sample of 1,076 HCWs (752 medical and 324 nonmedical) completed a web-based survey during two lockdowns. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory was used to measure VPTG, whereas the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory were used to assess potential VPTG indicators. At T2, after controlling for gender and age, all participants reported significantly lower STS scores. Regarding PTGI scores, after controlling for gender and age, an interaction effect was observed between time point and specialty: At T1, the nonmedical HCWs reported higher PTGI scores compared to the medical HCWs, whereas at T2 the medical HCWs reported higher PTGI scores compared to the nonmedical HCWs. VPTG was positively predicted by time point (higher scores in T2), Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale intrusive symptoms, and the coping strategies of active coping, instrumental support, positive reframing, religion, and denial, and negatively predicted by gender, education, and substance use. These coping strategies fully mediated the relationship between intrusion and VPTG. Policies should enhance resources for HCWs at risk of STS and promote VPTG as an important contribution to their ability to deliver highquality care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Background Design Methods Results Conclusions Relevance to Clinical Practice Patient or Public Contribution This study aimed to examine (a) changes in coping strategies and vicarious post‐traumatic growth (VPTG) across three timepoints of the COVID‐19 pandemic among nurses; (b) discrete groups of nurses with unique coping profiles and (c) the association of these coping profiles with VPTG across the timepoints.Although literature abounds with the negative mental health consequences of the pandemic among healthcare professionals, much less is known about the positive consequences on nurses, the coping strategies that they use, and how these change over time.This was a cross‐sectional web‐based survey at three timepoints during the pandemic.A sample of 429 nurses completed online the Post‐Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE) to measure vicarious post‐traumatic growth (VPTG) and coping strategies, respectively. The STROBE checklist was used to report the present study.Significantly higher VPTG scores were observed during the third timepoint. Different coping strategies were employed across the three timepoints. Nurses responded to the pandemic either with an active, an avoidant or a passive coping profile. Significantly higher VPTG levels were reported by the nurses of the active profile compared to those of the passive profile, whereas the difference between active and avoidant profiles was not significant.Notwithstanding the preponderance of the nurses with the active coping profile in achieving high VPTG, the avoidant copers had more gains (VPTG) than the passive copers, suggesting that doing something to cope with the stressor—let it be trying to avoid it—was better than doing nothing.The identification of distinct coping profiles among nurses and their association with VPTG is of particular use to policymakers and practitioners in developing tailored prevention and intervention efforts to help the nurses effectively manage the demands of the pandemic.No patient or public contribution since the study was exclusively conducted by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]