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:
  • Health care workers
  • Physical exercise
  • Diet
  • COVID-19
  • Behavior
  • Employees
  • Public health
  • Mental health
  • Stress
  • Author Keywords: clinical
  More +
• 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
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230313/cdc_230313_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 224.29 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6c623b413f99c938b579a7b1da2c973688fa3c56765a37e81df950b2c9a3700e67cb51d840fd35e6c2eb2e286828badc9552e37ba78cd9672d8213bdc2ece152