Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study explored and compared the psychological wellbeing, burnout, coping strategies and work-related quality of life amongst health and social care workers in older adults’ care homes and community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan. A cross-sectional onl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Psych |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8611/4/4/62 |
| _version_ | 1797455516004253696 |
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| author | Ruth D. Neill Junko Wake Mie Ohwa Jill Manthorpe Patricia Gillen Paula McFadden |
| author_facet | Ruth D. Neill Junko Wake Mie Ohwa Jill Manthorpe Patricia Gillen Paula McFadden |
| author_sort | Ruth D. Neill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explored and compared the psychological wellbeing, burnout, coping strategies and work-related quality of life amongst health and social care workers in older adults’ care homes and community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the UK (May–July 2021) and a postal survey conducted in Japan (September–October 2021). Participants recruited were health and social care professionals within nursing, social care and social work occupations working in care home or community settings in the UK and Japan during the pandemic. Data were analysed using SPSS. 1327 respondents across the UK and Japan completed the survey. Respondents’ psychological wellbeing was significantly lower in Japan compared to the UK (<i>p ≤</i> 0.001). UK respondents had significantly higher personal burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and work-related burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.05) while those in Japan had significantly higher client-related burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The novelty of this study relates to exploring mental wellbeing and quality of working life in two culturally contrasting countries. The overall psychological wellbeing and work-related quality of life of staff who work with older adults in the UK and Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic were lower than the population norm. Greater support and flexible working conditions for this workforce are needed to reduce burnout by improving wellbeing and work-related quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:55:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59ce34c859214a54a262132781417fbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-8611 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:55:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psych |
| spelling | doaj.art-59ce34c859214a54a262132781417fbd2023-11-24T17:41:57ZengMDPI AGPsych2624-86112022-11-014484385510.3390/psych4040062Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 PandemicRuth D. Neill0Junko Wake1Mie Ohwa2Jill Manthorpe3Patricia Gillen4Paula McFadden5School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UKDepartment of Humanities & Social Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji 192-0397, Tokyo, JapanSchool of Human Welfare Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya 662-8501, Hyogo, JapanNIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce, King’s College London, 22 Kingsway, London WC2B 6LE, UKSchool of Nursing, Jordanstown Campus, Ulster University, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UKSchool of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Magee Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UKThis study explored and compared the psychological wellbeing, burnout, coping strategies and work-related quality of life amongst health and social care workers in older adults’ care homes and community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the UK (May–July 2021) and a postal survey conducted in Japan (September–October 2021). Participants recruited were health and social care professionals within nursing, social care and social work occupations working in care home or community settings in the UK and Japan during the pandemic. Data were analysed using SPSS. 1327 respondents across the UK and Japan completed the survey. Respondents’ psychological wellbeing was significantly lower in Japan compared to the UK (<i>p ≤</i> 0.001). UK respondents had significantly higher personal burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and work-related burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.05) while those in Japan had significantly higher client-related burnout (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The novelty of this study relates to exploring mental wellbeing and quality of working life in two culturally contrasting countries. The overall psychological wellbeing and work-related quality of life of staff who work with older adults in the UK and Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic were lower than the population norm. Greater support and flexible working conditions for this workforce are needed to reduce burnout by improving wellbeing and work-related quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8611/4/4/62COVID-19social care workforceaged serviceswellbeingquality of working life |
| spellingShingle | Ruth D. Neill Junko Wake Mie Ohwa Jill Manthorpe Patricia Gillen Paula McFadden Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic Psych COVID-19 social care workforce aged services wellbeing quality of working life |
| title | Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | comparing the mental wellbeing and quality of working life among nurses and social care workers in the uk and japan in older adults care services during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 social care workforce aged services wellbeing quality of working life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8611/4/4/62 |
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