Effects of Sleep, Exercise, and Leadership Support on Resilience in Frontline Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 64; no. 5; p. 416
• Main Authors: Kaye-Kauderer, Halley, Loo, George, Murrough, James W, Feingold, Jordyn H, Feder, Adriana, Peccoralo, Lauren, Ripp, Jonathan, Pietrzak, Robert H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2022
• Subjects: COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Health Personnel - psychology; Humans; Leadership; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep
• ISSN: 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002460

To evaluate the direct and interacting effects of personal and systemic factors that contribute to psychological distress among frontline healthcare workers (FHCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using a hospital-wide, cross-sectional survey. A multivariable binary logistic regression and relative importance analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with screening positive for C19-distress. A total of 1005 (39.0%, 95%CI - 37.1-40.9%) out of 2579 FHCWs met the prespecified cutoff values for significant symptoms of C19-distress. Fewer sleep hours and lower perceptions of leadership support explained the majority of variance (19.4% relative variance explained [RVE]) in C19-distress, followed by team camaraderie (6.4% RVE), physical exercise (4.9% RVE), and engagement in hobbies (3.2% RVE). These results underscore the importance of restorative behaviors as potential targets to help decrease distress and promote resilience in FHCWs.