Resilience and the Dynamics of Job Demands: A Diary Study on Interactions in Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim(s)To explore the day-level interactions between challenge and hindrance job demands and their effects on work engagement and emotional exhaustion among healthcare professionals, focusing on the moderating role of resilience.DesignA longitudinal, diary-based design was employed.MethodsThis study utilised a multilevel modelling approach to analyse 351 diary entries from 85 healthcare professionals, collected during the COVID-19 pandemic (in March-April 2021). Participants recorded their daily experiences, including job demands, work engagement, emotional exhaustion and resilience.ResultsChallenge demands, such as increased workload, are associated with both higher work engagement and greater emotional exhaustion, highlighting a dual impact. Resilience moderated these effects, reducing the negative impacts of both challenge and hindrance demands on emotional exhaustion. Surprisingly, higher resilience also diminished the positive relationship between effort and engagement.ConclusionThe study highlights the critical role of resilience in moderating the effects of job demands on healthcare workers' well-being, particularly under the stressful conditions of a global pandemic.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareInsights from this study can assist healthcare organisations in developing strategies to enhance employee resilience and effectively manage job demands. Improved management of these factors can lead to better employee well-being and sustained engagement, ultimately benefiting patient care during high-stress periods.ImpactThe study addressed the impact of daily job demands on the well-being and performance of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main findings highlighted the dual effects of challenge demands and the protective role of resilience in mitigating the adverse effects of job demands. This research will impact healthcare organisations and policymakers, informing strategies to bolster workforce resilience and well-being, thereby potentially enhancing patient care during crises.Reporting MethodWe adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.Patient or Public ContributionNeither patients nor the public were involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of our research. Healthcare professionals participated only as research subjects and did not engage in any aspect of the research process.