Dealing with high-risk situations is a persistent challenge faced by hospital workers (HWs). The consequences of these risks are not confined to patients, hospitals, or the broader health system; they also exert a significant influence on HWs themselves and their social surroundings. The way HWs perceive high-risk scenarios shapes their coping mechanisms and actions. An essential, yet frequently overlooked, factor are the perceptions of the social environment. The support or strain provided by family and friends can profoundly influence a worker's resilience. Existing research suggests that individual, team and organisational resilience are correlated. Consequently, the social environment has the potential to influence outcomes across all these domains.
In this research project, resilience levels are conceptualised as interdependent perceptions that influence HWs decision-making and thus their behaviour in the workplace. The social environment is defined as a multidimensional construct composed of perceived social support, strain, worries and stigmatization experiences.
The interplay between various aspects of the social environment and their impact on perceptions of risk and resilience was explored through three case studies conducted in Germany. The first two case studies, carried out between 2018 and 2020 in two German hospitals (N = 58/48), investigated HWs' perceptions of their own, their team's, and their hospital's preparedness for managing patients with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID). The third case study examined experiences and perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (N = 1710).
The findings indicate that the social environment is not perceived uniformly, both positive and negative aspects coexist and interrelate. These aspects vary in their impact on perceived risks and resilience, and interactions subsequently shape workplace behaviour. In summary, the social environment may function as a resource or challenge for HWs facing high-risk situations. Understanding these complex interactions is essential for improving resilience and outcomes for HWs in high-risk contexts.