"Making Sure We Are All Okay": Healthcare Workers' Strategies for Emotional Connectedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Healthcare workers have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, treating affected patients and navigating overwhelmed healthcare systems. Emotional connection has been associated with resilient outcomes following collective trauma. This qualitative study examined how healthcare wor...

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Published in:Clinical Social Work Journal Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 445 - 456
Main Authors: Bender, Anna E., Berg, Kristen A., Miller, Emily K., Evans, Kylie E., Holmes, Megan R.
Format: Article
Published: Springer Nature Dec2021
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2021
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      pub: Springer Nature
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        atl: "Making Sure We Are All Okay": Healthcare Workers' Strategies for Emotional Connectedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
      aug:
        au:
          Bender, Anna E.
          Berg, Kristen A.
          Miller, Emily K.
          Evans, Kylie E.
          Holmes, Megan R.
        affil:
          Center on Trauma and Adversity, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., 44106-7164, Cleveland, OH, USA
          Center for Health Care Research and Policy, The MetroHealth System, 2500 MetroHealth Dr., 44109, Cleveland, OH, USA
      su:
        Medical personnel
        Social belonging
        COVID-19 pandemic
        Emotional trauma
        Social support
      sug:
        subj:
          Medical personnel
          Social belonging
          COVID-19 pandemic
          Emotional trauma
          Social support
          Other Individual and Family Services
      keyword:
        Collective trauma
        COVID-19
        Emotional connection
        Healthcare workers
        Qualitative research
        Collective trauma
        COVID-19
        Emotional connection
        Healthcare workers
        Qualitative research
      ab: Healthcare workers have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, treating affected patients and navigating overwhelmed healthcare systems. Emotional connection has been associated with resilient outcomes following collective trauma. This qualitative study examined how healthcare workers define emotional connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their adaptive emotional connection strategies. Data were gathered through the first wave of the online COVID-19 Pandemic and Emotional Well-Being study, a prospective panel study of the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers and the general public. This study focused on three extended-response questions about definitions of and strategies for emotional connectedness. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants conceptualize emotional connectedness as having empathy and value, help and support, presence, and vulnerability. They also describe emotionally connected relationships as being characterized by mutuality and frequent contact. Participants identify current behavioral strategies for cultivating emotional connectedness, such as using technology, providing instrumental help or sending gifts via mail, and building quality time within their households. They also report challenges in maintaining these connections. Future research must contribute knowledge about effective interventions for essential healthcare workers in the aftermath of COVID-19. Specific recommendations for social work practitioners are also discussed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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