"I am more me": Post-traumatic growth for New Zealand healthcare social workers during Covid-19

INTRODUCTION: The Covid-19 pandemic posed major challenges to healthcare workers working on the front line. Their risk for negative mental health outcomes is well established, and a high volume of research has been directed at the causes, as well as measures to increase workers' coping and resilience. Further, holistic and salutogenesis-oriented research is emerging directed at the origins of wellness and opportunities to grow after experiencing adversity. We contribute to this evolving research by qualitatively exploring the experience of transformational growth for social workers who worked in healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand during Covid-19. METHODS: We conducted semi -structured, online interviews with a sample of six social workers. Their accounts were analysed using an explorative semantic and interpretative form of reflexive thematic analysis, and five main themes were identified. The lens for analysis was Tedeschi and Calhoun's post -traumatic growth (PTG) theory. FINDINGS: Participants identified PTG in the form of an increased sense of self and selfidentity. They reported significant vocational stresses and deep caring for their patients. They shared a strong occupational self -identification with the social work profession, which might have increased their likelihood of experiencing PTG. Most identified a transformational shift toward paying attention to their own needs. CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to a new and more holistic perspective for our future pandemic response strategies. Further investigation is suggested to explore the identified shift in the balance between care for others and self -care within the profession.