State of Mental Health, Healthy Behaviors, and Wellness Support in Big 10 University Nursing and Health Sciences Faculty, Staff, and Students During COVID-19

Background: Federal and national entities urge organizations to assess healthcare professionals' mental health and well-being as the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the issue. Aims: This study aimed to (1) describe rates of mental health issues, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and perceptions of COVID-19's impact among Big 10 University nursing and health sciences faculty, staff, and students; (2) identify predictors of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout; and (3) assess the relationships among perceived school wellness support, healthy lifestyle behaviors, physical/mental health, and mattering. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used. Nursing and health science deans emailed invitations to faculty, staff, and students concerning an anonymous wellness assessment survey. Correlation coefficients tested associations among mental health indicators and wellness cultures. Multiple linear regression examined factors associated with mental health indicators.

Automated summary

In order to address the mental health issues faced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to assess the mental health, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and perceptions of COVID-19's impact among nursing and health sciences faculty, staff, and students at a Big 10 University. The study also aimed to identify predictors of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout, and examine the relationships between perceived school wellness support, healthy lifestyle behaviors, physical/mental health, and mattering.