Association of health behaviors with healthcare workers’ physical and psychological well-being: Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic

Healthcare workers who regularly engaged in positive health behaviors during the pandemic reported better psychological and physically well-being than those who did not before and during COVID-19. Engaging in pleasurable activities was the only health behavior in our study that demonstrated a potential protective effect against the decline in psychological well-being during the pandemic. Several other positive health behaviors were associated with a lower rate of decline of physical health during the pandemic. Health systems should consider implementing strategies to increase opportunities for pleasurable activities for healthcare workers, both in the workplace and at home, especially during times of increased stress.