The influence of healthcare workers’ occupation on health promoting lifestyle profile

To compare the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors, including: spiritual growth, nutrition, physical activity, interpersonal relations, health responsibility, and stress management, of healthcare workers with workers of other professions. Cross-sectional observational study among a convenience sample of 285 healthcare workers and 137 of other professions. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II), a 52-item measure regarding the six components of healthy lifestyle. Demographic characteristics, education, income, work duration and self-rated health were also collected. Multivariable linear models were specified for each of the components of healthy lifestyle. Both groups were comparable in their age, family status, income and self-rated health. Results of multivariable linear models revealed that healthcare workers adopt better nutrition (β = 0.228, p < 0.001), more physical activity (β = 0.133, p = 0.049), and greater health responsibility (β = 0.131, p = 0.016), compared to other professions. Such differences were not found with regard to spiritual growth (β = 0.097, p = 0.121), interpersonal relations (β = 0.039, p = 0.444), or stress management (β = 0.053, p = 0.299). Healthcare workers adopt better healthy lifestyle only in components that may be perceived to have direct influence on health outcomes, namely nutrition, physical activity, and health responsibility. Further research that will explore the reasons for the observed differences may enable designing health-improving interventions.