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Using natural intervention to promote subjective well-being of essential workers during public-health crises: A Study during COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Essential workers such as medical workers and police officers are first-line fighters during public-health crises, such as COVID-19 pandemic. Every time, they are under heavy stress both physically and mentally. The goal of the present study was to develop a novel nature-based intervention to promote their well-being. A representative sample of essential workers in China was recruited for a five-day intervention program, and were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group watched 2-min video clips of natural scenes every day, while the control group watched urban scenes. Results indicated that after five days, the natural stimuli intervention yielded overall improvements in various indices of subjective well-being. Furthermore, analyses of nested longitudinal data confirmed that everyday nature stimuli exposure provided both immediate and repeated restorative benefits. The proposed natural-based intervention is brief and easy-to-use, offering a cost-efficient psychological booster to promote subjective well-being of essential workers during this crisis time.

SUBMITTER: Hu C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8661457 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectivesTo compare psychological outcomes, experiences and sources of stress over the COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand in essential workers (healthcare and 'other' essential workers) with that of workers in nonessential work roles.DesignOnline cross-sectional survey.SettingConducted in New Zealand over level 4 lockdown in April/May 2020.ParticipantsFindings from employed participants (2495) are included in this report; 381 healthcare workers, 649 'other' essential workers and 1465 nonessential workers.Primary and secondary outcome measuresMeasures included psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)), well-being (WHO-5), alcohol use, subjective experiences and sources of stress. Differences between work categories were quantified as risk ratios or χ2 tests.ResultsAfter controlling for confounders that differed between groups of essential and nonessential workers, those in healthcare and those in 'other' essential work were at 71% (95% CI 1.29 to 2.27) and 59% (95% CI 1.25 to 2.02) greater risk respectively, of moderate levels of anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10), than those in nonessential work. Those in healthcare were at 19% (95% CI 1.02 to 1.39) greater risk of poor well-being (WHO-5 <13). There was no evidence of differences across work roles in risk for psychological distress (K10 ≥12) or increased alcohol use. Healthcare and 'other' essential workers reported increased workload (p<0.001) and less uncertainty about finances and employment than those in nonessential work (p<0.001). Healthcare and nonessential workers reported decreased social contact. No difference by work category in health concerns was reported; 15% had concerns about participants' own health and 33% about other people's health.ConclusionsDuring the pandemic lockdown, essential workers (those in healthcare and those providing 'other' essential work) were at increased risk of anxiety compared with those in nonessential work, with those in healthcare also being at increased risk of poor well-being. This highlights the need to recognise the challenges this vital workforce face in pandemics.

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Using natural intervention to promote subjective well-being of essential workers during public-health crises: A Study during COVID-19 pandemic.

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