“We shouldn’t waste a good crisis”: the lived experience of working on the frontline through the first surge (and beyond) of COVID-19 in the UK and Ireland
Objective
Frontline workers have shown extraordinary resilience and sustained efforts since the outbreak of COVID-19. The present study used semi-structured interviews with 38 frontline workers in the UK and Ireland to explore the psychological impact of working through COVID-19.
Design
The qualitative data were analysed systematically using thematic analysis.
Results
Four themes were interpreted: 1)) “I’ve stopped turning the telly on. I’ve had to because the news was making me ill”: An ecosystem of influence; 2) “Dead, dead, dead”: The emotional and psychological toll: 3) “It’s shone a light on what we’re failing on as well”: Injustices, hierarchies and heroes: and 4) “I definitely think COVID happened for a reason to stop us in our tracks and to slow us down”: Unexpected positives.
Conclusion
This research offers insights into how frontline workers make sense of their experiences during periods of enormous societal and occupational stress. The learnings generated have relevance for government and organisational policy-makers who have opportunities to shape future conditions for frontline workers.
History
Published in
Psychology & HealthPublisher
Taylor & FrancisAcceptance Date
2021-04-24Publication Date
2021-06-30Version
- VoR (Version of Record)
Citation
Kinsella, E.L., Hughes, S., Lemon, S., Stonebridge, N. and Sumner, R.C. (2021) '“We shouldn’t waste a good crisis”: the lived experience of working on the frontline through the first surge (and beyond) of COVID-19 in the UK and Ireland', Psychology & Health, pp.1-27. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1928668Print ISSN
0887-0446Electronic ISSN
1476-8321Cardiff Met Affiliation
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences
Cardiff Met Authors
Rachel C. SumnerCardiff Met Research Centre/Group
- Occupational and Environmental Public Health
Copyright Holder
- © The Authors
