AUTHOR=Kercher Amy , Rahman Jodie , Pedersen Mangor 

TITLE=The COVID-19 pandemic, psychologists’ professional quality of life and mental health

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1339869

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1339869

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Background: Psychologists are at known risk of work-related stress, secondary trauma, and burnout.The COVID-19 pandemic increased stress and anxiety for communi�es worldwide and corresponded with an increased demand for mental health services. Our study inves�gated the impact of COVID-19 on psychologists' professional quality of life, psychological symptoms and work-related stress in Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ).Method: Ninety-nine registered psychologists were recruited via NZ professional psychology organisa�ons, represen�ng 3% of the total workforce. Survey data collected included symptoms of compassion fa�gue and sa�sfac�on, psychological symptoms, COVID-19-related stress and resilience, and professional and personal circumstances during the third year of the pandemic, 2022.Results: Seventy per cent reported that their work stress had increased, and 60% that their caseload intensity had increased during COVID-19. Psychologists reported receiving litle to no addi�onal personal or professional support, while 55% reported increased personal responsibili�es during the pandemic (for example, closed childcare and schools during lockdowns). High rates of compassion fa�gue (burnout and secondary trauma�c stress) were reported, and low resilience. We observed that psychological distress was higher than the community averages before the pandemic and comparable with frontline healthcare professionals. Compassion fa�gue was associated with COVID-related stress, psychological distress, years in prac�ce and more frequent supervision, but not with working with atrisk clients, levels of personal support or having children at home. Despite these difficul�es, high Compassion Sa�sfac�on scores were also reported, with over 90% indica�ng they had no inten�on of leaving the profession in the foreseeable future.Conclusions: Psychologists' compassion fa�gue appears to have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as have their symptoms of psychological distress. Increased workplace and clinical demands, telehealth difficul�es, stress rela�ng to the pandemic, inadequate support and increased personal responsibili�es were reported by psychologists. Mental health workforces are not immune to the personal and professional impacts of crises, and are at risk of burnout and secondary trauma�c stress. We hope that increased awareness and understanding of psychologists' own difficul�es during COVID-19 can be used to tackle future crises beter, and beter support mental health professionals.