Decision letter for "Social support as a mediator of occupational stressors and mental health outcomes in first responders"

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on various sectors and industries around the world. Globally, healthcare workers and first responders have found themselves faced with unprecedented challenges, both within and outside of the workplace. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research was to identify and explore the complex mental health outcomes resulting from the various new challenges experienced by healthcare workers and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in an effort to understand the mental health outcomes resulting from the various challenges and barriers faced while working during the pandemic. A total of 31 healthcare workers and first responders were interviewed. RESULTS The mental health outcomes described were not isolated to increased stress and anxiety; participants also described complex experiences, perspectives, and feelings related to guilt, stoicism, helplessness, fear, and anger. This paper adds to the current body of literature by further exploring the personal experiences and perspectives of healthcare workers and first responders related to these complex mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Continued exploration, understanding, and awareness is needed in order to continue working towards addressing these outcomes and offering potential solutions.

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Social Support and Mental Health Outcomes Among U.S. Army Special Operations Personnel

Military Psychology ◽

10.1037/mil0000114 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 361-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Dale W. Russell ◽

David M. Benedek ◽

James A. Naifeh ◽

Carol S. Fullerton ◽

Nikki Benevides ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Special Operations

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Religious Coping and Mental Health Outcomes: The Mediating Roles of Event Centrality, Negative Affect, and Social Support for Military Veterans

Military Behavioral Health ◽

10.1080/21635781.2017.1333060 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 22-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adriel Boals ◽

Steven Lancaster

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Military Veterans ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Event Centrality

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Expanding the Utility of Race-Based Accountability: An Application of RBA to Longitudinal Data Analyses

Race and Justice ◽

10.1177/2153368718811046 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 60-79

Author(s):

Andrea L. Ruiz ◽

Gabriel A. Acevedo ◽

Raquel R. Marquez ◽

Marcos Marquez

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Childhood Abuse ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Adult Mental Health

Despite the strong empirical evidence linking childhood abuse to negative mental health outcomes later in life, a number of questions remain regarding race variations in this association. Moreover, less is known about the salience of protective factors that can offset or ameliorate the negative effects of abuse on adult mental health, and whether these factors work differently by race. Using three waves of panel data from a nationally representative survey of American adults, the present study examined the long-term effects of childhood abuse on adult mental health over a span of 20 years. In addition, we assessed social support as a protective factor, and examined its differential effects on mental health outcomes for Whites and non-Whites. Results indicate that despite frequent childhood abuse, social support is associated with less depression for Whites—its positive effects being most pronounced for those with the most severe abuse experiences. However, social support is associated with worst depression for non-Whites—its negative effects being most pronounced for those with severe abuse experiences. These findings demonstrate that the factors commonly considered as protective and beneficial for adult victims of abuse work differently across racial groups and in fact, may be detrimental for non-Whites.

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