A descriptive analysis of nurses' self-reported mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international study.
Journal: International nursing review
Volume: 72
Issue: 1
Year of Publication: 2025
Affiliated Institutions:
Global Consortium of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Nursing, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico City, Mexico.
Growing Up Foundation; Director U-Nursing LatAm, Mexico City, Mexico.
Mexico & Central America, U-Nursing-LatAm, Mexico City, Mexico.
U-Nursing-LatAm, US Office, Tampa, Florida, USA.
Universidad Nacional de Asuncion Nursing Department, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
El Salvador Node, Latin American Nursing Education Network (RELEDEN); University of Salvador; Leader of the Evidence-Based Nursing Network, San Salvador, El Salvador.
Docente del departamento de Enfermería de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras en el Valle de sula; Directora del Centro Formador de Auxiliares en Enfermería (CEFFAE); Gerente General del Centro de Estimulación y Desarrollo Infantil (CETEB); Directora de la Red Latinoamericana de Educación en Enfermería (ReLEdEn), San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras.
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Nursing School, Department of Maternal and Childcare, La Vega, Dominican Republic.
Universidad Adventista de Bolivia, Cochabamba, Bolivia.
School of Nursing, University of Carabobo, Carabobo, Venezuela.
Universidad de Guayaquil, Guyaquil, Ecuador.
School of Nursing, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud- Fundación A. Barceló (University Institute of Health Sciences), Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina.
Nursing Department, CNPq Research Productivity Fellow, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Centro de Investigación en Cuidado de Enfermería y SaludSchool of Nursing, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Escuela de Enfermería, Universidad Libre, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
Coordinadora Perú, U-Nursing LatAm - Perú, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
Hospital del Niño Dr. José Renán Esquivel, Panama City, Panama.
School of Nursing, Coordinadora Global U-Nursing LatAm, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain.
Department of Social and Behavioral Science, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul, Turkey.
Nursing Department, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Kaunas, Lithuania.
Baptist Indonesia Research and Development Center (BIRD-C)/Office of International Affair STIKES RS. Baptis Kediri (Kediri Baptist Hospital College of Health Sciences), Kediri, East Java, Indonesia.
HealthRight International, New York, New York, USA.
Coordinadora de Investigación, Red Latinoamericana de Educación en Enfermería (ReLEdEn), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Docente, Universidad de El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador.
Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
School of Nursing, International University of Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Albanian Order of Nurses, Tirana, Albania.
AAB College-Department of Nursing, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo.
Burao College of Health Sciences, Burao, Somaliland.
National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research (NIANER), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Department of Hospital Services/Chief Nursing Officer in Cambodia for WPRO, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
Department of Internal and Environmental Nursing, Jagellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Kaunas, Lithuania.
Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Nursing and Midwifery Research, Nursing Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
University of Ghana School of Nursing and Midwifery, Accra, Ghana.
Nursing Science, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
School of Education, University of Asia and the Pacific, Manila, Philippines.
Research Unit, Curatio International Foundation, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Curatio International Foundation, Tbilisi, Georgia.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana.
School of Nursing, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Center for Healthcare Delivery Systems Science, Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract summary
To describe the self-reported mental health of nurses from 35 countries who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.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.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.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.The data obtained establish a basis for understanding the specific mental health needs of the nursing workforce globally, highlighting key areas for service development.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.
Authors & Co-authors:
Squires Allison A
Dutton Hillary J HJ
Casales-Hernandez Maria Guadalupe MG
Rodriguez López Javier Isidro JI
Jimenez-Sanchez Juana J
Saldarriaga-Dixon Paola P
Bernal Cespedes Cornelia C
Flores Yesenia Y
Arteaga Cordova Maryuri Ibeth MI
Castillo Gabriela G
Loza Sosa Jannette Marga JM
Garcia Julio J
Ramirez Taycia T
González-Nahuelquin Cibeles C
Amaya Teresa T
Guedes Dos Santos Jose Luis JL
Muñoz Rojas Derby D
Buitrago-Malaver Lilia Andrea LA
Rojas-Pineda Fiorella Jackeline FJ
Alvarez Watson Jose Luis JL
Gómez Del Pulgar Mercedes M
Anyorikeya Maria M
Bilgin Hulya H
Blaževičienė Aurelija A
Buranda Lucky Sarjono LS
Castillo Theresa P TP
Cedeño Tapia Stefanía Johanna SJ
Chiappinotto Stefania S
Damiran Dulamsuren D
Duka Blerina B
Ejupi Vlora V
Ismail Mohamed Jama MJ
Khatun Shanzida S
Koy Virya V
Lee Seung Eun SE
Lee Taewha T
Lickiewicz Jakub J
Macijauskienė Jūratė J
Malinowska-Lipien Iwona I
Nantsupawat Apiradee A
Nashwan Abdulqadir J AJ
Ahmed Fadumo Osman FO
Ozakgul Aylin A
Paarima Yennuten Y
Palese Alvisa A
Ramirez Veronica E VE
Tsuladze Alisa A
Tulek Zeliha Z
Uchaneishvili Maia M
Wekem Kukeba Margaret M
Yanjmaa Enkhjargal E
Patel Honey H
Ma Zhongyue Z
Goldsamt Lloyd A LA
Jones Simon S
Study Outcome
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