The mediating role of social support on the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and burnout of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients: A cross-sectional study
Wejdan Shaqiqi, Faiza A. Abou El-Soud
Abstract
Social support can help nurses cope with occupational stress and trauma, and maintain overall well-being, particularly in stressful situations such as outbreaks. To determine the mediating role of social support on the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout among nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients. A cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive design. Two hundred nurses who had provided direct care to COVID-19 patients were recruited from wards in two hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Professional Quality of Life Scale tools. STS had a significant and positive correlation with burnout ( r = 0.610, p = 0.000); social support from family, friends, and significant others were each significantly and negatively associated with STS ( r = −0.147, p = 0.038; r = −0.547, p < 0.0001; r = −0.225, p = 0.001, respectively) and burnout ( r = 0–0.282, p < 0.0001; r = −0.716, p = 0.026; r = −0.377, p < 0.0001, respectively). STS had a significant effect on social support (β = −0.21, p = 0.042) and burnout (β = 0.61, p < 0.0001). Social support had a significant and partial effect on the relationship between STS and burnout (Z = 2.99, p = 0.002). Social support can reduce and mitigate the negative effects of STS and burnout. This understanding could enhance nurses' occupational lives by assisting policymakers and nurse managers in creating positive work environments that promote social support. Such policies could reduce the incidence and impact of burnout and STS. • Secondary traumatic stress and burnout were prevalent among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. • Secondary traumatic stress was influenced more by support from friends and significant others. • Burnout was more strongly mediated by support from family and significant others. • Nurses' secondary traumatic stress had an immediate impact on their burnout. • Nurses' perceived social support had a partial effect on the realtionship between secondary traumatic stress and burnout.