Daily associations between global self-esteem and self-concept clarity and their relationships with subjective well-being in a sample of adult workers.

OBJECTIVES: The present pre-registered study examined the reciprocal day-to-day associations between global self-esteem and self-concept clarity and their incremental validity with respect to daily life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. METHODS: We used intensive longitudinal data from 153 adult workers (45.1% women), over a period of 31 days. Data were analyzed using dynamic structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Results attested higher global self-esteem and self-concept clarity mean levels for older vs. younger participants, and lower global self-esteem and self-concept clarity variability for older vs. younger participants. Furthermore, global self-esteem and self-concept clarity were correlated at a cross-sectional daily level, yet only self-concept clarity states positively predicted subsequent global self-esteem states, while global self-esteem states did not predict subsequent self-concept clarity states. Daily global self-esteem and daily self-concept clarity further predicted subsequent daily higher life satisfaction and positive affect, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings shed light on the short-term relationships linking global self-esteem and self-concept clarity, pointing to their discriminant validity in predicting individuals' subjective well-being.

Insider versus outsider workplace mistreatment and their impact on affective ill-being in healthcare professionals: Can personal resources act as buffers?

AIMS: Workplace stress can negatively impact healthcare providers' professionalism and quality of care. One source of workplace stress is the experience of workplace mistreatment. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources theory, this study aimed to (a) investigate the impact of mistreatment frequency experienced by healthcare workers from insider sources (i.e. co-workers, supervisors) and outsider sources (i.e. patients, visitors) on affective ill-being and (b) the potential moderating role of trait resilience and trait self-efficacy, as personal resources, in the mistreatment-ill-being relationship. DESIGN: Lagged design. METHODS: We collected data from 153 Irish healthcare workers between January 2018 and June 2019 via three surveys, separated by 1-week intervals. Personal resources were measured at Time 1, frequency of mistreatment from the two sources was assessed at Time 2 and affective ill-being was assessed at Time 3. We used moderated regression analyses to evaluate the association of mistreatment frequency from the two sources and affective ill-being and the moderating effect of personal resources. RESULTS: Only insider mistreatment frequency was positively related to affective ill-being. Furthermore, the positive impact of insider mistreatment on affective ill-being was moderated by self-efficacy (but not by trait resilience). In contrast to our expectations, the relationship was stronger at high levels compared to low levels of self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Mistreatment from co-workers and supervisors is linked to higher levels of affective ill-being. Additionally, healthcare workers with high self-efficacy were more vulnerable to the negative consequences of co-worker and supervisor mistreatment as it impacted their affective ill-being. IMPACT: These findings extend the literature on workplace mistreatment by integrating insider and outsider perpetrators of mistreatment and examining their differential impact on the employees' affective ill-being. It also highlights mistreatment from organizational insiders as a significant factor in the relationship between mistreatment and affective ill-being. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL COMMUNITY?: The findings underscore the detrimental impact of workplace mistreatment on the well-being of healthcare professionals. The study findings of higher frequency of insider mistreatment being associated with increased affective ill-being call for action, with line managers and supervisors being critical to achieving respective changes in healthcare workers' environment. The findings have implications for policymakers interested in developing a framework to support healthcare professionals in addressing workplace mistreatment, enabling them to effectively fulfil their role as care providers.

Vaccination hesitancy: To be vaccinated, or not to be vaccinated, that is the question in the era of COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy poses serious challenges in achieving adequate vaccine coverage in the general population. While most studies on vaccine hesitance determinants during the COVID-19 pandemic were quantitative, qualitative research on the reasons for vaccine resistance is still lacking. To fill this gap, this study aims to qualitatively investigate cognitive and emotional factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This qualitative pilot study was conducted between October and November 2021 in Italy. A total of 40 COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant ("hesitant not vaccinated" or "hesitant but vaccinated") individuals completed anonymous questionnaires with open-ended questions. Data were analysed using the Interpretive Description approach. The central theme that emerged about vaccine hesitancy was the lack of control. This construct included four different sub-categories: distrust of the government, infodemic, influence of family, and general anti-vaccine opinions. The results also showed that the most important emotional and cognitive factors associated with hesitancy were anger related to a perceived sense of oppression; emotional avoidance to minimize risk; anxiety related to potential vaccine side effects. Identifying and understanding factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy is crucial to improving communication strategies that will ultimately result in increased confidence and vaccine acceptance.

Investigating the association between patient verbal aggression and emotional exhaustion among Italian health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: To analyze whether patient verbal aggression would be related to emotional exhaustion and whether this relationship would be mediated by work-family conflict and moderated by dehumanization and resilience. BACKGROUND: Although patient verbal aggression has been identified as one of the most experienced forms of aggression, its effects on Italian health care providers during the pandemic are still poorly known. METHODS: A total of 197 Italian health care professionals completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and moderated mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS: Patient verbal aggression was positively related to health care professionals' emotional exhaustion, both directly and indirectly, as mediated by work-family conflict. Health care providers were more likely to become emotionally exhausted when they had low resilience and, simultaneously, tended to ascribe patients non-uniquely human traits. CONCLUSIONS: Patient verbal aggression may spill over onto health care professionals' family lives. Dehumanization represents an ineffective coping strategy that exacerbates the effects of aggression on work-family conflict, whereas resilience represents a protective resource against emotional exhaustion. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Hospital organisations could benefit from providing their staff with stress management interventions, aggression management, psychological support and psychological resilience training programmes. These programmes should incorporate coping skills on establishing work-home boundaries and balancing empathy with cognitive problem-solving abilities.

Dealing with ethical issues in rehabilitation medicine: The relationship between managerial support and emotional exhaustion is mediated by moral distress and enhanced by positive affectivity and resilience.

AIMS: To analyse whether managerial support and ethical vision of patient care would be related to emotional exhaustion directly or through moral distress and whether these relationships would be conditional on individual levels of positive affectivity and resilience. BACKGROUND: Although some studies described the effects of ethical climate, moral distress, resilience and positive affectivity on emotional exhaustion, there are no attempts of explicative models containing these variables. METHODS: A total of 222 Italian professionals employed in neuro-rehabilitation medicine units participated in this cross-sectional study. Descriptive statistics, mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS. RESULTS: Managerial support and ethical vision of patient care were negatively related to emotional exhaustion, directly and through moral distress. Professionals high in resilience and positive affectivity benefited more from the protective effect of managerial support on emotional exhaustion through moral distress. CONCLUSION: Ethical climate represents a protective factor against moral distress and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, individual levels of positive affectivity and resilience may increase the beneficial effects deriving from managerial support in dealing with ethical issues. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Health organisations may consider developing strategies to improve ethical climate, enhance managers' ability to support team in dealing with ethical issues and foster employees' positive affectivity and resilience.

How Is Job Insecurity Related to Workers' Work-Family Conflict during the Pandemic? The Mediating Role of Working Excessively and Techno-Overload.

The current labor market is characterized by drastic changes linked to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and post-COVID-19 transformations, which have decreased job security and job stability. As a result, the feeling of losing one's job has become even more common among European workers. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether and how job insecurity would be related to work-family conflict during the pandemic. Online self-report questionnaires assessing job insecurity, working excessively, techno-overload, and work-to-family conflict were completed by 266 workers from Italy. Descriptive analyses, confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation mediation models were conducted. Job insecurity was positively associated with work-to-family conflict, both directly and indirectly, as mediated by techno-overload and a tendency to work excessively. This study advances the literature, as it is the first to identify techno-overload and working excessively as parallel psychological mechanisms linking job insecurity to work-family conflict among Italian workers during the pandemic. Workers could benefit from technological workload monitoring programs, techno effectiveness, and time management training programs. Companies could also consider implementing family-friendly and digital disconnection practices.

Techno-Stress Creators, Burnout and Psychological Health among Remote Workers during the Pandemic: The Moderating Role of E-Work Self-Efficacy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working was pervasively implemented, causing an increase in technology-related job demands. Concurrently, there was an increase in psychological problems in the occupational population. This study on remote workers tested a moderated mediation model positing burnout, conceptualized according to the Burnout Assessment Tool, as the mediator between techno-stressors and psychological health outcomes and e-work self-efficacy as a protective personal resource. A sample of 225 remote workers filled out anonymous questionnaires measuring techno-stressors, e-work self-efficacy, burnout, and psychological health symptoms (i.e., depressive mood and anxiety symptoms). The data were analyzed using structural equation mediation and moderated mediation models, adopting a parceling technique. The results showed that burnout totally mediated the relationship between techno-stressors and depressive mood, while partially mediating the association between techno-stressors and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, e-work self-efficacy buffered the positive effects of techno-stressors on depressive mood and anxiety symptoms through burnout. The present research attested to the relevance of techno-stressors for the psychological health of remote workers and supported burnout as a mediator of this process, although anxiety symptoms were also directly related to techno-stressors. Moreover, the protective role of domain-specific self-efficacy was confirmed in the realm of remote working. Limitations and practical implications are discussed.

How and When May Technostress Impact Workers' Psycho-Physical Health and Work-Family Interface? A Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.

Although a growing body of research has analyzed the determinants and effects of technostress, it is still unclear how and when technostress would impact workers' psycho-physical health and work-family interface during the pandemic. To fill this gap, this study tests the mediating mechanisms and the boundary conditions associated with the impact of technostress on workers' psycho-physical well-being and work-family conflict. A total of 266 Italian workers completed online questionnaires measuring (traditional vs. remote) working modalities, technostress, fear of COVID-19, working excessively, psycho-physical distress, work-family conflict, loss of a loved one due to COVID-19, and resilience. Structural equation models were performed. Results indicated that technostress was positively related to psycho-physical distress and work-family conflict, as mediated by fear of COVID-19 and working excessively, respectively. The loss of a loved one exacerbated the effects of fear of COVID-19 on psycho-physical health, while resilience buffered the effects of working excessively on work-family conflict. Since numerous organizations intend to maintain remote working also after the COVID-19 emergency, it is crucial to study this phenomenon during its peaks of adoption, to prevent its potential negative outcomes. The implications of these findings for theory and practice are discussed.

Attitude towards Intranasal Vaccines and Psychological Determinants: Effects on the General Population in Northern Italy.

Little is known about the use of intranasal vaccines, but some studies have shown that this innovative way of administration is preferred over needle injection as it is considered both less painful and intrusive to the body, equally effective, and associated with fewer side effects. This study aimed to investigate specific psychological determinants (intolerance of uncertainty, persecutory ideation, perceived control, vaccine hesitancy) of attitude toward nasal vaccine delivery. A convenience sample including 700 Italian participants took part in this cross-sectional study and completed an online questionnaire. A structural equation model with a latent variable was performed to study the relationship between psychological variables, vaccine hesitancy, and attitude toward nasal vaccine delivery. The results indicate that both a hesitant attitude toward vaccination (ß = 0.20, p = 0.000) and low perceived control (ß = -0.20, p = 0.005) may directly increase preference for nasal administration; furthermore, high levels of persecutory ideation may indirectly influence the propensity for intranasal vaccine. These findings suggest that pharmaceutical companies could implement nasal vaccines and provide detailed information on these vaccines through informational campaigns. Hesitant individuals with low levels of perceived control could more easily comply with these types of vaccines.

Dynamic associations of relational conflicts at work and consequent negative emotion dynamics with diurnal cortisol variations.

This study examines the predictive value of conflict and conflict-related variations in negative emotion dynamics, with respect to three cortisol indicators (cortisol awakening responses; overall cortisol output; diurnal cortisol slopes). A total of 166 workers provided momentary reports on conflict(s) with colleagues and negative emotions 10 times a day for 2 workdays and salivary cortisol samples 5 times a day. The results of latent growth curve piecewise multilevel models revealed that the occurrence of a conflict and the number of conflicts introduced significant variations in specific cortisol parameters indicating greater cortisol levels throughout the day. Moreover, the conflict-elicited negative emotion boost predicted a lower reduction of cortisol levels from morning to evening. Last, the postconflict decline in negative emotions was negatively associated with overall cortisol production. This study contributes to establishing a potential association between naturally occurring episodic conflicts at work and daily cortisol patterns, identifying within-person fluctuations in negative emotions as psychological mechanisms through which this occurs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Daily cortisol variations are predicted proximally by self-efficacy beliefs at work and indirectly by perceived self-regulatory abilities in managing negative emotions.

In the present ecological study, we analyzed the relations of a set of self-efficacy beliefs at work to parameters of diurnal cortisol variation. Specifically, using data collected during two consecutive working days from 166 workers, we tested a mediation model positing social and work-related self-efficacy beliefs as mediators of the relations between self-regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs in managing negative emotions and cortisol indicators. Results from the multilevel mediation analyses supported the proposed model for work-related self-efficacy, which resulted as a significant mediator of the relation between self-regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs in managing negative emotions and the overall cortisol daily production indexed by computing the area under the curve with respect to the ground. Findings suggest the importance of self-efficacy beliefs for workers' physiological adjustment. Theoretical and practical contributions of the findings are discussed.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccines: Protective Shields or Threatening Risks? A Descriptive Exploratory Study among the Italian Population.

Although several quantitative studies have explored vaccine hesitancy, qualitative research on the factors underlying attitudes toward vaccination is still lacking. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the general perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among the Italian population with a qualitative approach. The sample included 700 Italian participants who completed an online survey. Open questions underwent a descriptive analysis for unveiling meaning categories, while differences in the prevalence of categories were calculated using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Vaccination was associated with the following seven main themes: 'safety', 'healthcare', 'vaccine delivery', 'progress', 'ambivalence', 'mistrust', and 'ethics'. Vaccinated individuals more frequently reported words related to the safety theme (χ2 = 46.7, p < 0.001), while unvaccinated individuals more frequently reported words related to mistrust (χ2 = 123, p < 0.001) and ambivalence (χ2 = 48.3, p < 0.001) themes. Working in the healthcare sector and being younger than 40 years affected the general perceptions of vaccination in terms of pro-vaccine attitudes. Unvaccinated individuals were more affected by the negative experiences of their acquaintances and manifested more distrust of scientific researchers, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies than vaccinated individuals. These findings suggest promoting collaborative efforts of governments, health policymakers, and media sources, including social media companies, in order to deal with cognitions and emotions supporting vaccine hesitancy.

The role of resilience in the work-life interface: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: In an increasingly competitive marketplace, workers struggle to find a good balance between work and personal life. Difficulties in fulfilling the demands arising from these different domains may undermine employees' well-being and job-related outcomes, thereby, impairing organizational productivity. OBJECTIVE: Does resilience play a relevant role in relation to work-life interface? And, if so, how is resilience related to its three facets (i.e., work-life conflict, enrichment, and balance)? To answer these questions, the current paper systematically reviews studies analysing the role of resilience in the work-life interface. METHODS: A key terms literature search was performed using multiple electronic databases (i.e., Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed) without setting any publication date limitation. The review process followed the international PRISMA statement guidelines. A quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: A total of 26 eligible papers published between 2009 and 2020 were included. Among these, 6 employed a qualitative design, while 20 studies adopted a quantitative design mostly examining resilience as antecedent. Data were predominantly collected in the healthcare sector. Resilience was mainly analysed in relation to work-life conflict. The most commonly used theoretical framework was Conservation of Resources theory. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, resilience was negatively associated with work-life conflict and positively related to both work-life balance and enrichment. A positive work-life balance can promote resilience, but resilience can also help workers to balance work and life. Additionally, resilience can protect from the negative effects of both work-life imbalance and work-life conflict on workers' health and job-related outcomes.

Well-Being and Professional Efficacy Among Health Care Professionals: The Role of Resilience Through the Mediation of Ethical Vision of Patient Care and the Moderation of Managerial Support.

Drawing on the Conservation of Resources theory, this study analyzes whether resilience could be related to healthcare providers' wellbeing and professional self-efficacy, both directly and indirectly, as mediated by ethical vision of patient care and moderated by managerial support in dealing with ethical issues. Overall, 315 Italian healthcare professionals employed in neuro-rehabilitation medicine or palliative care specialties participated in this multi-centered cross-sectional study. The following variables were investigated: resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), wellbeing (Maugeri Stress Index-Reduced), professional self-efficacy (Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey), ethical vision of patient care and managerial support in dealing with ethical issues (Italian version of the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey). Overall, resilience was positively associated with healthcare providers' wellbeing and professional self-efficacy, directly and indirectly, as mediated by ethical vision of patient care. Highly resilient healthcare professionals who perceived the presence of a positive ethical vision of patient care in their workplace were more likely to experience greater wellbeing when managerial support in dealing with ethical issues was high (vs. low). Thus, these findings provide suggestions for tailored interventions sustaining healthcare professionals along their daily activity characterized by high-demanding and challenging situations.

Moral Distress among Frontline Physicians and Nurses in the Early Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.

During the COVID-19 health emergency, healthcare professionals faced several ethical demanding job stressors, becoming at particular risk of moral distress. To date, only a few scales have been developed to evaluate moral distress among frontline professionals working in contact with COVID-19 patients. Moreover, although many healthcare professionals from various disciplines were converted to COVID-19 patient care, no study has yet analyzed whether the resulting change in duties might represent a risk factor for moral distress. Thus, this study aimed to investigate how and when the change in duties during the emergency would be related to healthcare professionals' psycho-physical malaise. To this aim, a first Italian adaptation of the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire (SCQ) was provided. In total, 272 Italian healthcare professionals participated in this cross-sectional study. Healthcare professionals who had to perform tasks outside their usual clinical duties were more likely to experience moral distress and then psycho-physical malaise. This was particularly likely for those who were extremely concerned about becoming infected with the virus. The results also indicated that the Italian adaptation of the SCQ had a one-factor solution composed of six items. This study provides the first Italian adaptation of SCQ and practical suggestions on how supporting professionals' well-being during emergencies.

How Supportive Ethical Relationships Are Negatively Related to Palliative Care Professionals' Negative Affectivity and Moral Distress: A Portuguese Sample.

In the modern healthcare landscape, moral distress has become an increasingly common phenomenon among healthcare professionals. This condition is particularly prevalent among palliative care professionals who are confronted with bioethical issues in their daily practice. Although some studies described the effects of poor ethical climate and negative affectivity on moral distress, how these variables could be incorporated into a single model is still unclear. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether ethical relationships with the hospital could be related to the intensity and frequency of moral distress, both directly and as mediated by professionals' negative affectivity. Sixty-one Portuguese palliative care professionals completed web-based self-report questionnaires. After exploring descriptive statistics, mediation analyses were performed using the partial least squares method. The results indicated that the presence of positive relationships with the hospital reduced the professionals' negative affectivity levels. This, in turn, led palliative care professionals to experience a lower frequency and intensity of moral distress. Being a physician was positively associated with negative affectivity but not with the frequency of moral distress. Considering the protective role of ethical relationships with hospitals, health organizations could consider implementing interventions to improve hospitals' ethical climate and provide staff with ethics training programs.

The moderating effect of exposure to robbery on the relationship between post-traumatic stress and job satisfaction.

Research has disregarded the boundary conditions of the effects of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) at work. Addressing this issue, the present study examines the moderating impact of the (shared vs. isolated) exposure to robbery on the relationship between PTSS and employee job satisfaction. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, we argue that PTSS would positively affect employee job satisfaction when the robbery is experienced collectively. To test our predictions, we conducted a two-wave study-with a lag of two months between measurements-on 140 employees from a national bank in Italy. Results from hierarchical regression analyses supported our prediction: the exposure to robbery moderated the relationship between PTSS and job satisfaction. While within the "isolated exposure" group the job satisfaction score was higher among less symptomatic victims, within the "shared exposure" group those with high PTSS reported higher job satisfaction levels than those with low PTSS. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory and practice.

The impact of customer incivility and verbal aggression on service providers: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Working in direct contact with the public may involve psycho-social hazards for employees who are frequently exposed to rude or verbally aggressive customers. Negative encounters may undermine employees' well-being and job performance, impairing the quality of the service provided with tangible costs for organizations. OBJECTIVE: The paper provides a systematic review of research on customer incivility and verbal aggression in service settings using the following framework 1) antecedents of customer misbehavior as reflected in worker perceptions, customer reasons and environmental factors; 2) maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies used by service providers in response to customer incivility and verbal aggression; 3) effects of customer incivility and verbal aggression on service providers' well-being and work-related outcomes; and 4) practical implications for the management. We present a model of the relationships between these four areas. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using PsychINFO and Scopus. RESULTS: Fifty-three papers (20 pertaining to customer incivility and 33 pertaining to customer verbal aggression) were included. CONCLUSION: Both customer incivility and verbal aggression may impair employees' well-being and job outcomes. Current gaps, practical implications, and directions for future research are discussed.

Well-Being and Functioning at Work Following Thefts and Robberies: A Comparative Study.

Thefts and robberies may be traumatizing experiences for employees. The aim of this study is to explore to what extent experiencing robberies and/or thefts at work affect workers' mental health, coping-self-efficacy, social support seeking, workload and job satisfaction. Drawing on Conservation of Resources theory, this research contributes to our understanding of the psychological sequelae of robbery and theft for employees working in small businesses. The few studies on the effects of robberies and thefts in the past have predominantly focused on bank employees. A sample of Italian tobacconists and jewelers completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire examining the experience of robbery and/or theft, social support seeking (Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced scale, COPE-IV), psycho-somatic well-being (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12), job satisfaction (a single item). Victims of thefts and/or robberies reported their PTSD symptoms (Impact of Event- Revised 6, IES-R-6) and trauma-related coping self-efficacy (Coping Self-Efficacy scale, CSE-7), based on the last event (N = 319). Descriptive analyses, ANOVA, ANCOVA and multiple regressions analyses have been carried out. The results indicated that victims of thefts and robberies experienced greater workload, higher psycho-physical complaints and greater tendency to seek social support in comparison with their non-affected counterparts. They additionally experienced more post-traumatic symptomatology and perceived lower coping self-efficacy, when compared to those who experienced thefts "only." Multiple regression analyses revealed that CSE was positively related to job satisfaction, although the presence of psycho-physical symptoms was the main predictor of job satisfaction among both non-affected and affected employees. PTSD was not an independent predictor of job satisfaction. In sum, robberies and/or thefts exposure undermines differently workers' well-being.