Protective Factors against Morally Injurious Memories from the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses’ Occupational Wellbeing: A Cross-Sectional Experimental Study

Gherman, Mihaela Alexandra; Arhiri, Laura; Holman, Andrei Corneliu; Soponaru, Camelia

Protective Factors against Morally Injurious Memories from the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses’ Occupational Wellbeing: A Cross-Sectional Experimental Study

Gherman, Mihaela Alexandra; Arhiri, Laura; Holman, Andrei Corneliu; Soponaru, Camelia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was a fertile ground for nurses’ exposure to self- and otherPotentially Morally Injurious Events (PMIEs). Our study explored the effects of nurses’ memories of self- and other-PMIEs on occupational wellbeing and turnover intentions. Using an experimental design on a convenience sample of 634 Romanian nurses, we tested a conceptual model with PLSSEM, ?nding adequate explanatory and predictive power. Memories of self- and other-PMIEs were uniquely associated with work engagement, burnout, and turnover intentions, compared to a control group. These relationships were mediated by the three basic psychological needs. Relatedness was more thwarted for memories of other-PMIEs, while competence and autonomy were more thwarted for memories of self-PMIEs. Perceived supervisor support weakened the indirect effect between type of PMIE and turnover intentions, through autonomy satisfaction, but not through burnout. Self-disclosure weakened the indirect effect between type of PMIE and turnover intentions, through autonomy satisfaction, and both burnout and work engagement. Our ?ndings emphasize the need for different strategies in addressing the negative long-term effects of nurses’ exposure to self- and other-PMIEs, according to the basic psychological need satisfaction and type of wellbeing indicator.

View Resource
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
2022
Profession(s)
Nurses
Topic(s)
Moral Distress or Moral Injury
Burnout
Resource Types
Peer-Reviewed Research
Study Type(s)
Nonexperimental / Observational Study
Action Strategy Area(s)
Physical & Mental Health
Setting(s)
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Academic Role(s)
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