Positive Mental Health of Frontline Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 First Wave and Second Wave in Spain: The Protective Role of Social Recognition.

Abstract

Background: The study of the COVID-19 disease consequences on healthcare professionals' mental health has drawn a great interest in psychology and other behavioral sciences. Previous studies mainly focused on professionals' health in terms of psychopathology, therefore, there is no research examining their positive mental health during both the first and the second wave. Also, there is no research studying healthcare professionals' social recognition during the pandemic and the influence of this variable on professionals' positive health.

Methods: Following the WHO's recommendations, our objective was to measure pathology (i.e., anxiety and traumatic intensity), positive health (i.e., Hedonic, Psychological and Social Well-being) and social recognition in a sample of 200 healthcare professionals in the frontline care of Covid-19 patients.

Results: In both waves, participants showed high levels of anxiety and traumatic intensity, although, as expected, in the second (vs. the first) wave psychopathological symptoms decreased. Concerning positive health indicators, in the second wave, health professionals showed more hedonic and psychological well-being than in the first one. However, in the second wave social well-being was lower than in the first wave, an expected though apparently paradoxical result, linked to the decrease in healthcare professionals' social recognition between the first and the second wave. In fact, bootstrapping procedures and Sobel Test confirm the mediating role of social recognition on the effect of Covid-19 wave on social well-being.

Conclusions: Public institutions, governments, and society in general, should recognize health professionals' work, given that social recognition is a fundamental protection factor for social well-being.