Stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout as predictors of post-traumatic growth in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive correlational study


DEMİR A., DEMİRTAŞ B., Yazgan E. O., ÇEKİÇ Y., AĞDEMİR B., Keskin S. T., ...Daha Fazla

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus) identifier

Özet

COVID-19, with the losses it has caused worldwide, can be considered a potentially traumatic event for many individuals. Individuals develop psychopathological outcomes in the wake of traumatic event; besides, post-traumatic growth may be encountered. This study aimed to examine how the stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic affected their post-traumatic growth. This study used descriptive and correlational research. The sample consisted of 1,353 nurses in health care institutions in Turkey. The relevant data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Data were analyzed using linear and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. The analyses showed that depression and emotional exhaustion were negatively associated with post-traumatic growth, whereas stress and personal accomplishment were positively associated with it. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at promoting stress management and personal accomplishment, while reducing depression and emotional exhaustion, could be important in supporting post-traumatic growth in healthcare workers. Based on these findings, policymakers should adopt a proactive approach, developing both individual and institutional plans to empower healthcare workers in the face of future challenges that may impact public health.