Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-11-2021
Abstract
Healthcare workers have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, treating affected patients and navigating overwhelmed healthcare systems. Emotional connection has been associated with resilient outcomes following collective trauma. This qualitative study examined how healthcare workers define emotional connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their adaptive emotional connection strategies. Data were gathered through the first wave of the online COVID-19 Pandemic and Emotional Well-Being study, a prospective panel study of the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers and the general public. This study focused on three extended-response questions about definitions of and strategies for emotional connectedness. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants conceptualize emotional connectedness as having empathy and value, help and support, presence, and vulnerability. They also describe emotionally connected relationships as being characterized by mutuality and frequent contact. Participants identify current behavioral strategies for cultivating emotional connectedness, such as using technology, providing instrumental help or sending gifts via mail, and building quality time within their households. They also report challenges in maintaining these connections. Future research must contribute knowledge about effective interventions for essential healthcare workers in the aftermath of COVID-19. Specific recommendations for social work practitioners are also discussed.
Keywords
COVID-19 (disease), communicable diseases, coronavirus infections
Publication Title
Clinical Social Work Journal
Rights
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature 2021. This article is made available via the PMC Open Access Subset for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.
Recommended Citation
Bender, A.E., Berg, K.A., Miller, E.K. et al. “Making Sure We Are All Okay”: Healthcare Workers’ Strategies for Emotional Connectedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clin Soc Work J 49, 445–455 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00781-w'