The Coping Mechanisms for Managing Stressful Situations among Healthcare Professionals: A Comparison between Psychiatric Hospitals and Psychiatric Departments of General Hospitals

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Healthcare professionals, particularly those working in mental health settings, are frequently exposed to stressful conditions that affect their psychological well-being and professional performance. Coping mechanisms play a crucial role in stress management and are influenced by the work environment.

Aim:
The aim of the study was to comparatively investigate coping strategies for stressful situations among healthcare professionals working in psychiatric hospitals and in psychiatric departments of general hospitals, considering differences in the organizational and clinical context. The study hypotheses were that there are statistically significant differences in coping strategies between these healthcare professionals and that demographic and professional characteristics are associated with stress coping mechanisms.

Material and Methods:

A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 369 healthcare professionals (physicians and nursing staff), including 235 working in psychiatric hospitals and 134 in psychiatric departments of general hospitals in Greece. Data were collected between August 2023 and May 2024 using anonymous questionnaires, including an informed consent form, demographic and professional characteristics and the Brief-COPE scale. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v28, with a significance level of α=0,05.

Results:

Healthcare professionals working in psychiatric departments of general hospitals showed higher mean scores in active coping [5,28 (SD=0,931) vs. 3,95 (SD=1,126), p<0,001], denial [5,60 (SD=0,951) vs. 4,40 (SD=1,203), p<0,001], substance use [5,37 (SD=0,930) vs. 4,36 (SD=1,148), p<0,001], seeking emotional support [5,10 (SD=1,089) vs. 4,69 (SD=1,117), p<0,001], behavioral disengagement [5,40 (SD=1,111) vs. 4,29 (SD=1,076), p<0,001], and self-blame [5,28 (SD=1,127) vs. 4,91 (SD=1,134), p=0,004]. Conversely, healthcare professionals working in psychiatric hospitals showed higher scores in planning [5,20 (SD=1,261) vs. 4,38 (SD=1,032), p<0,001], acceptance [5,81 (SD=1,230) vs. 5,17 (SD=1,199), p<0,001], and religion/religious coping [5,13 (SD=1,138) vs. 4,79 (SD=1,048), p<0,001].

Conclusions:

Coping mechanisms differ significantly between the two types of healthcare settings, highlighting the influence of organizational context and individual characteristics. Strengthening adaptive coping strategies through psychoeducation, supervision, and organizational support is essential for enhancing staff resilience. Future research should focus on longitudinal and multicenter studies, as well as on evaluating interventions aimed at reducing burnout.

Keywords: Brief-COPE, coping mechanisms, healthcare professionals, hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, stressful situations