The prevalence and factors associated with posttraumatic growth after 3-years outbreak of COVID-19 among resident physicians in China: a cross-sectional study

Zixuan Zeng; Huan Wang; Yaxing Zhou; Zhanghong Lu; Renyangcuo Ci; Yezhe Lin; Xiaoping Zeng; Lei Huang

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1228259

The prevalence and factors associated with posttraumatic growth after 3-years outbreak of COVID-19 among resident physicians in China: a cross-sectional study

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Sep 11:14:1228259. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1228259. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Zixuan Zeng¹, Huan Wang², Yaxing Zhou³, Zhanghong Lu⁴, Renyangcuo Ci³, Yezhe Lin⁵, Xiaoping Zeng³, Lei Huang^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
² Clinical Research Center, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Medical Education, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Teaching Office, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
⁵ Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Chinese-German Institute of Mental Health, Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global traumatic event that has profoundly struck individuals' mental health. However, this might potentially promote positive transformation such as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Studies have indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the well-being of resident physicians, but little is known about PTG among this vulnerable population in China. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of PTG among Chinese resident physicians after 3-years outbreak of COVID-19.

Methods: An online survey was conducted from 9 March to 20 March in 2023. PTG was assessed using the 10-item Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form (PTGI-SF). Scores ≥30 implied moderate-to-high PTG. We also collected possible associated factors for PTG, including socio-demographic and psychological variables. Data was analyzed by applying descriptive statistics, univariable and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: In total, 2267 Chinese resident physicians provided validated data. 38.7% of them reported moderate-to-high PTG. In the multivariable logistic regression models, age (odds ratio, OR = 1.039; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI = 1.008-1.070), female (OR = 1.383, 95%CI = 1.151-1.662), satisfied or neutral with annual income (OR = 2.078, 95%CI = 1.524-2.832; OR = 1.416, 95%CI = 1.157-1.732), sufficient support at work (OR = 1.432, 95%CI = 1.171-1.751) and resilience (OR = 1.171, 95%CI = 1.096-1.252) were significantly positively associated with moderate-to-high PTG. On the contrary, burnout (OR = 0.653, 95%CI = 0.525-0.812), depression symptoms (OR = 0.700, 95%CI = 0.552-0.889), and stress (OR = 0.757, 95%CI = 0.604-0.949) were significantly negatively associated with moderate-to-high PTG.

Discussion: Overall, resident physicians in China experienced relatively high prevalence of PTG that could be associated with several psychosocial factors. Findings may provide evidence to develop interventions for resident physicians to systematically and constructively process traumatic events related to the pandemic and foster their PTG.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; China; physicians; posttraumatic growth; standardized residency training program.