This study also examined the influence of variables related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as experience of discrimination related to COVID-19, on psychological distress by targeting hospital nurses.An online survey was conducted among nurses at 138 hospitals in a prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan from July 7 to August 8, 2022; respondents worked in their respective hospitals before and during the pandemic (N = 1,075). Some nurses perceived improvements in workplace social capital owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in workplace social capital and experiences of discrimination based on COVID-19 were factors affecting nurses’ psychological distress. To prepare for future pandemics, it is necessary to examine the deterioration of workplace social capital and discrimination against medical workers caused by COVID-19 and consider strategies to prevent the worsening of nurses’ psychological distress.
