tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int Nurs Rev
. 2025 Mar;72(1):e13099.
doi: 10.1111/inr.13099. A descriptive analysis of nurses' self-reported mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international study
Allison Squires[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hillary J Dutton[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria Guadalupe Casales-Hernandez[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Javier Isidro Rodriguez López[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Juana Jimenez-Sanchez[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Paola Saldarriaga-Dixon[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Cornelia Bernal Cespedes[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Yesenia Flores[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Maryuri Ibeth Arteaga Cordova[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Gabriela Castillo[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Jannette Marga Loza Sosa[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Julio Garcia[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Taycia Ramirez[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Cibeles González-Nahuelquin[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Teresa Amaya[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Jose Luis Guedes Dos Santos[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Derby Muñoz Rojas[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Lilia Andrea Buitrago-Malaver[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Fiorella Jackeline Rojas-Pineda[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Jose Luis Alvarez Watson[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Mercedes Gómez Del Pulgar[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Maria Anyorikeya[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Hulya Bilgin[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Aurelija Blaževičienė[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Lucky Sarjono Buranda[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Theresa P Castillo[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Stefanía Johanna Cedeño Tapia[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Stefania Chiappinotto[SUP] 28 [/SUP], Dulamsuren Damiran[SUP] 29 [/SUP], Blerina Duka[SUP] 30 [/SUP], Vlora Ejupi[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Mohamed Jama Ismail[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Shanzida Khatun[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Virya Koy[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Seung Eun Lee[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Taewha Lee[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Jakub Lickiewicz[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Jūratė Macijauskienė[SUP] 37 [/SUP], Iwona Malinowska-Lipien[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Apiradee Nantsupawat[SUP] 38 [/SUP], Abdulqadir J Nashwan[SUP] 39 [/SUP], Fadumo Osman Ahmed[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Aylin Ozakgul[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Yennuten Paarima[SUP] 40 [/SUP], Alvisa Palese[SUP] 41 [/SUP], Veronica E Ramirez[SUP] 42 [/SUP], Alisa Tsuladze[SUP] 43 [/SUP], Zeliha Tulek[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Maia Uchaneishvili[SUP] 44 [/SUP], Margaret Wekem Kukeba[SUP] 45 [/SUP], Enkhjargal Yanjmaa[SUP] 46 [/SUP], Honey Patel[SUP] 47 [/SUP], Zhongyue Ma[SUP] 47 [/SUP], Lloyd A Goldsamt[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Simon Jones[SUP] 48 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Aim: To describe the self-reported mental health of nurses from 35 countries who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: There is little occupationally specific data about nurses' mental health worldwide. Studies have documented the impact on nurses' mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few have baseline referents.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design structured the study. Data reflect a convenience sample of 9,387 participants who completed the opt-in survey between July 31, 2022, and October 31, 2023. Descriptive statistics were run to analyze the following variables associated with mental health: Self-reports of mental health symptoms, burnout, personal losses during the pandemic, access to mental health services, and self-care practices used to cope with pandemic-related stressors. Reporting of this study was steered by the STROBE guideline for quantitative studies.
Results: Anxiety or depression occurred at rates ranging from 23%-61%, with country-specific trends in reporting observed. Approximately 18% of the sample reported experiencing some symptoms of burnout. The majority of nurses' employers did not provide mental health support in the workplace. Most reported more frequently engaging with self-care practices compared with before the pandemic. Notably, 20% of nurses suffered the loss of a family member, 35% lost a friend, and 34% a coworker due to COVID-19. Nearly half (48%) reported experiencing public aggression due to their identity as a nurse.
Conclusions: The data obtained establish a basis for understanding the specific mental health needs of the nursing workforce globally, highlighting key areas for service development.
Implications for nursing policy: Healthcare organizations and governmental bodies need to develop targeted mental health support programs that are readily accessible to nurses to foster a resilient nursing workforce.
Keywords: COVID‐19; global health; health workforce; nursing; nursing shortage; occupational health; occupational health nursing; pandemics.
. 2025 Mar;72(1):e13099.
doi: 10.1111/inr.13099. A descriptive analysis of nurses' self-reported mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international study
Allison Squires[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hillary J Dutton[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria Guadalupe Casales-Hernandez[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Javier Isidro Rodriguez López[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Juana Jimenez-Sanchez[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Paola Saldarriaga-Dixon[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Cornelia Bernal Cespedes[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Yesenia Flores[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Maryuri Ibeth Arteaga Cordova[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Gabriela Castillo[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Jannette Marga Loza Sosa[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Julio Garcia[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Taycia Ramirez[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Cibeles González-Nahuelquin[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Teresa Amaya[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Jose Luis Guedes Dos Santos[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Derby Muñoz Rojas[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Lilia Andrea Buitrago-Malaver[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Fiorella Jackeline Rojas-Pineda[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Jose Luis Alvarez Watson[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Mercedes Gómez Del Pulgar[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Maria Anyorikeya[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Hulya Bilgin[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Aurelija Blaževičienė[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Lucky Sarjono Buranda[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Theresa P Castillo[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Stefanía Johanna Cedeño Tapia[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Stefania Chiappinotto[SUP] 28 [/SUP], Dulamsuren Damiran[SUP] 29 [/SUP], Blerina Duka[SUP] 30 [/SUP], Vlora Ejupi[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Mohamed Jama Ismail[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Shanzida Khatun[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Virya Koy[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Seung Eun Lee[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Taewha Lee[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Jakub Lickiewicz[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Jūratė Macijauskienė[SUP] 37 [/SUP], Iwona Malinowska-Lipien[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Apiradee Nantsupawat[SUP] 38 [/SUP], Abdulqadir J Nashwan[SUP] 39 [/SUP], Fadumo Osman Ahmed[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Aylin Ozakgul[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Yennuten Paarima[SUP] 40 [/SUP], Alvisa Palese[SUP] 41 [/SUP], Veronica E Ramirez[SUP] 42 [/SUP], Alisa Tsuladze[SUP] 43 [/SUP], Zeliha Tulek[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Maia Uchaneishvili[SUP] 44 [/SUP], Margaret Wekem Kukeba[SUP] 45 [/SUP], Enkhjargal Yanjmaa[SUP] 46 [/SUP], Honey Patel[SUP] 47 [/SUP], Zhongyue Ma[SUP] 47 [/SUP], Lloyd A Goldsamt[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Simon Jones[SUP] 48 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39871528
- DOI: 10.1111/inr.13099
Aim: To describe the self-reported mental health of nurses from 35 countries who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: There is little occupationally specific data about nurses' mental health worldwide. Studies have documented the impact on nurses' mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few have baseline referents.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design structured the study. Data reflect a convenience sample of 9,387 participants who completed the opt-in survey between July 31, 2022, and October 31, 2023. Descriptive statistics were run to analyze the following variables associated with mental health: Self-reports of mental health symptoms, burnout, personal losses during the pandemic, access to mental health services, and self-care practices used to cope with pandemic-related stressors. Reporting of this study was steered by the STROBE guideline for quantitative studies.
Results: Anxiety or depression occurred at rates ranging from 23%-61%, with country-specific trends in reporting observed. Approximately 18% of the sample reported experiencing some symptoms of burnout. The majority of nurses' employers did not provide mental health support in the workplace. Most reported more frequently engaging with self-care practices compared with before the pandemic. Notably, 20% of nurses suffered the loss of a family member, 35% lost a friend, and 34% a coworker due to COVID-19. Nearly half (48%) reported experiencing public aggression due to their identity as a nurse.
Conclusions: The data obtained establish a basis for understanding the specific mental health needs of the nursing workforce globally, highlighting key areas for service development.
Implications for nursing policy: Healthcare organizations and governmental bodies need to develop targeted mental health support programs that are readily accessible to nurses to foster a resilient nursing workforce.
Keywords: COVID‐19; global health; health workforce; nursing; nursing shortage; occupational health; occupational health nursing; pandemics.