The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened moral distress among health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. Past research has shown that effective leadership may mitigate potential for the development of moral distress. However, no research to date has considered the mechanisms by which...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1235211/full |
| _version_ | 1797670023084376064 |
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| author | Rachel A. Plouffe Rachel A. Plouffe Rachel A. Plouffe Anthony Nazarov Anthony Nazarov Anthony Nazarov Ann M. Heesters Ann M. Heesters Chandlee C. Dickey Laura Foxcroft Fardous Hosseiny Tri Le P. Andrea Lum Maede S. Nouri Patrick Smith J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson |
| author_facet | Rachel A. Plouffe Rachel A. Plouffe Rachel A. Plouffe Anthony Nazarov Anthony Nazarov Anthony Nazarov Ann M. Heesters Ann M. Heesters Chandlee C. Dickey Laura Foxcroft Fardous Hosseiny Tri Le P. Andrea Lum Maede S. Nouri Patrick Smith J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson |
| author_sort | Rachel A. Plouffe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened moral distress among health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. Past research has shown that effective leadership may mitigate potential for the development of moral distress. However, no research to date has considered the mechanisms by which leadership might have an influence on moral distress. We sought to evaluate longitudinally whether Canadian HCWs’ perceptions of workplace support and ethical work environment would mediate associations between leadership and moral distress.MethodsA total of 239 French- and English-speaking Canadian HCWs employed during the COVID-19 pandemic were recruited to participate in a longitudinal online survey. Participants completed measures of organizational and supervisory leadership at baseline and follow-up assessments of workplace support, perceptions of an ethical work environment, and moral distress.ResultsAssociations between both organizational and supervisory leadership and moral distress were fully mediated by workplace supports and perceptions of an ethical work environment.DiscussionTo ensure HCW well-being and quality of care, it is important to ensure that HCWs are provided with adequate workplace supports, including manageable work hours, social support, and recognition for efforts, as well as an ethical workplace environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:53:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-40a49feb3ed2424b87b409fe10278f69 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:53:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-40a49feb3ed2424b87b409fe10278f692023-09-30T21:35:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-09-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12352111235211The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemicRachel A. Plouffe0Rachel A. Plouffe1Rachel A. Plouffe2Anthony Nazarov3Anthony Nazarov4Anthony Nazarov5Ann M. Heesters6Ann M. Heesters7Chandlee C. Dickey8Laura Foxcroft9Fardous Hosseiny10Tri Le11P. Andrea Lum12Maede S. Nouri13Patrick Smith14J. Don Richardson15J. Don Richardson16J. Don Richardson17J. Don Richardson18MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, CanadaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomMacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, CanadaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaThe Institute for Education Research (TIER), Unviersity Health Network, Toronto, ON, CanadaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaAtlas Institute for Veterans and Families, Ottawa, ON, CanadaMacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, CanadaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaMacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, CanadaMacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, CanadaMacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, CanadaSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomParkwood Institute, London, ON, CanadaIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened moral distress among health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. Past research has shown that effective leadership may mitigate potential for the development of moral distress. However, no research to date has considered the mechanisms by which leadership might have an influence on moral distress. We sought to evaluate longitudinally whether Canadian HCWs’ perceptions of workplace support and ethical work environment would mediate associations between leadership and moral distress.MethodsA total of 239 French- and English-speaking Canadian HCWs employed during the COVID-19 pandemic were recruited to participate in a longitudinal online survey. Participants completed measures of organizational and supervisory leadership at baseline and follow-up assessments of workplace support, perceptions of an ethical work environment, and moral distress.ResultsAssociations between both organizational and supervisory leadership and moral distress were fully mediated by workplace supports and perceptions of an ethical work environment.DiscussionTo ensure HCW well-being and quality of care, it is important to ensure that HCWs are provided with adequate workplace supports, including manageable work hours, social support, and recognition for efforts, as well as an ethical workplace environment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1235211/fullleadershipmoral distresshealthcareworkplace ethicsworkplace support |
| spellingShingle | Rachel A. Plouffe Rachel A. Plouffe Rachel A. Plouffe Anthony Nazarov Anthony Nazarov Anthony Nazarov Ann M. Heesters Ann M. Heesters Chandlee C. Dickey Laura Foxcroft Fardous Hosseiny Tri Le P. Andrea Lum Maede S. Nouri Patrick Smith J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson J. Don Richardson The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Psychology leadership moral distress healthcare workplace ethics workplace support |
| title | The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | The mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress: a longitudinal study of Canadian health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | mediating roles of workplace support and ethical work environment in associations between leadership and moral distress a longitudinal study of canadian health care workers during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | leadership moral distress healthcare workplace ethics workplace support |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1235211/full |
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