The COVID-19 pandemic effect on psychologists’ professional quality of life and mental health

Abstract

Abstract Background: Psychologists are at known risk of work-related stress, secondary trauma, and burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic increased stress and anxiety for communities worldwide and corresponded with an increased demand for mental health services. Our study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on psychologists’ professional quality of life, psychological symptoms and work-related stress in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Method: Ninety-nine registered psychologists were recruited via NZ professional psychology organisations, representing 3% of the total workforce. Survey data collected included symptoms of compassion fatigue and satisfaction, 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 little to no additional personal or professional support, while 55% reported increased personal responsibilities during the pandemic (for example, closed childcare and schools during lockdowns). High rates of compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic 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 fatigue was associated with COVID-related stress, psychological distress, years in practice and more frequent supervision, but not with working with at-risk clients, levels of personal support or having children at home. Despite these difficulties, high Compassion Satisfaction scores were also reported, with over 90% indicating they had no intention of leaving the profession in the foreseeable future. Conclusions: Compassion Fatigue rates appear to have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as have psychological distress symptoms among psychologists. Our findings suggest that mental health workforces are not immune to crisis-related changes. We hope that increased awareness and understanding of psychological difficulties experienced during COVID-19 can be used to tackle future crises better, and better support mental health professionals.