Front-line hotel employees mental health and quality of life post COVID-19 pandemic: The role of coping strategies

Abstract

The tourism business has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in economic and job losses due to travel restrictions and lockdown measures. Among those most impacted are tourism employees, who have experienced job insecurity, financial difficulties, and increased work-related stress. The pandemic has also produced a significant negative effect on both mental health and quality of life (QOL) of these employees, leading to high levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. This study aims to assess the impacts of three coping strategies (problem-focused, social support, and avoidance) on the mental health and quality of life of front-line hotel employees. Data were collected from 700 participants and analyzed using SPSS version 25 and structural equation modeling (SEM) and AMOS program version 24. Our study found that social support and problem-solving coping strategies were effective in mitigating the negative impacts of stress, depression, and anxiety, while avoidance coping strategy did not have a significant impact. The mental health consequences of stress, depression, and anxiety were found to reduce the quality of life of hotel employees. The study highlights the significance of developing and implementing effective coping strategies to support the mental health and well-being of tourism employees. The findings suggest that organizations should provide resources and support to address the mental health needs of their employees.