AUTHOR=Bidzan Monika , Bidzan-Bluma Ilona , Szulman-Wardal Aleksandra , Stueck Marcus , Bidzan Mariola 

TITLE=Does Self-Efficacy and Emotional Control Protect Hospital Staff From COVID-19 Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms? Psychological Functioning of Hospital Staff After the Announcement of COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.552583

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.552583

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 anxiety and PTSD symptoms in the hospital staff, as well as to identify protective factors of COVID-19 anxiety once the coronavirus pandemic was announced in Poland.
Methods:  90 healthcare workers from the hospital in Poland completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing self-efficacy, emotional control, and PTSD symptoms; a questionnaire assessing COVID-19 anxiety, and a socio-demographic questionnaire. A multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the effects of gender, being directly vs indirectly exposed to patients, and general self-efficacy on COVID-19 anxiety. 
Results: The analysis showed that females (β = -.271, p < .01) healthcare professionals indirectly exposed to patients (β = -.336, p < .01), and those who reported lower levels of general self-efficacy (β = -.295, p < .01) have a stronger tendency to experience COVID-19 anxiety [R2 = .301, F(3, 89) = 12.34, p < .01].
Conclusions: The findings show the importance of Self-Efficacy for dealing with COVID-19 anxiety. The internal coping strategies should be introduced to healthcare workers.