Exploring University and Healthcare Workers’ Physical Activity, Diet, and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cesarone G ; Evanoff B ; Eyler A ; Gilbert A ; Harris J ; Hayibor L
• Description:
  Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected well-being and health behaviors, especially among healthcare workers and employees in other fields. This is of public health concern because health behaviors and well-being influence long-term negative health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore health behaviors and well-being among university and medical center staff during COVID-19. Methods: EMPOWER (Employee Well-being during Epidemic Response) was a three-wave observational study (wave 1: 1,994; wave 2: 1,426; wave 3: 1,363) measuring health behaviors and well-being of university and medical center staff. Surveys were disseminated online to all employees between April and September 2020. Descriptive statistics explored trends across waves for health behaviors (physical activity [PA], diet), and well-being (mental well-being [MWB], depression, anxiety, and stress). Logistic regressions explored associations between health behaviors and well-being factors adjusting for demographics and clinical role. Interactions explored moderation by clinical role. Results: Most participants reported same/healthier changes in PA (54-65%) and diet (57-73%) and decreased MWB across waves (62%-69%). Nonclinical workers were less likely than clinical workers to experience worse MWB and moderate/severe anxiety and stress (odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 0.38 to 0.58 across waves and well-being outcomes). Participants who maintained/increased PA and diet were less likely to experience worse well-being (ORs ranged from 0.44 to 0.69 across waves and well-being outcomes). Interactions by clinical role were not significant. Conclusion/application to practice: Maintaining/increasing health behaviors during COVID-19 may be protective of mental health/well-being in some healthcare workers. These findings support health promotion efforts focused on maintaining or improving diet and PA. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Communicable Diseases Diet Health Personnel Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Public Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Clinical COVID-19 Employees Fitness Health Care Workers Mental Health Nutrition Physical Exercise Population Health Public Health Stress Workplace

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• ISSN:
  2165-0799
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Missouri ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  384-394
• Volume:
  71
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068095
• Citation:
  Workplace Health Saf 2023 Aug; 71(8):384-394
• Contact Point Address:
  Amanda Gilbert, MSW, MPH, Prevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University, One Brookings Drive MSC 1196-257-220, St. Louis, MO 63130
• Email:
  a.s.gilbert@wustl.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060901
• Source Full Name:
  Workplace Health & Safety
• End Date:
  20260831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6c623b413f99c938b579a7b1da2c973688fa3c56765a37e81df950b2c9a3700e67cb51d840fd35e6c2eb2e286828badc9552e37ba78cd9672d8213bdc2ece152
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230313/cdc_230313_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 224.29 KB ]