Fear of Death, Emotional Intelligence and Resilience Among Healthcare Staff During COVID-19: A Correlative Study

The suffering, pain and fear of death experienced by patients during the pandemic have evoked a wide range of feelings and emotions in healthcare professionals. Managing these emotions is influenced by factors such as emotional intelligence and resilience. Recognising and addressing these emotions can enhance the quality of care and help prevent mental health issues. This study analyses the relationship among fear of death, emotional intelligence and resilience, as along with the sociodemographic variables of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive, comparative and correlational study was conducted. Participants included professionals from the Neurosurgery, Pneumology, Emergency Service and Floating Staff units in a tertiary-level hospital in Spain. Data were collected through an anonymous and voluntary online survey, which included sociodemographic data, Collett-Lester fear of death, emotional intelligence and resilience scale. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. A total of 121 professionals participated, predominantly women (85.12%), with a mean age of 41.89 years (SD ± 9.6). Nurses compromised 64% of the sample. Fear of others' death (37.2%) and the dying process of others (33.1%) increased. Emotional intelligence levels were generally adequate across all work areas, with women scoring higher in attention and clarity. However, significant differences in emotional regulation were observed between groups. Resilience scores were high across all participants (> 78.77). Positive correlations were found among age, fear of the dying process of others (p=0.003) and resilience (p=0.002). An inverse correlation was observed between fear of others' death and resilience (p=0.018) and emotional regulation (p=0.020). Linear regression analysis identified attention to emotions, acceptance and bioethics training as predictors of fear of death.