Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Healthcare Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 15165

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Dr. Maria Antoniadou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece
Interests: primary research interests focus on professionalism in dentistry; the quality and safety of prosthetic services; the performance and long-term behavior of contemporary biomaterials; AI in prosthetics and the ethical frameworks that guide responsible clinical decision-making
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Polyxeni Mangoulia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, GR-11527 Athens, Greece
Interests: psychiatric nursing; mental health nursing; psychopharmacology; community nursing; psychoeducation; cognitive behavioral therapy; family nursing; patient education; nursing diagnosis; violence prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Healthcare professionals have long faced psychological strain, but the COVID-19 pandemic has markedly intensified work-related stress, burnout, and moral distress. The long-term impacts include rising rates of secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and challenges to emotional resilience. At the same time, growing interest in compassion satisfaction and workplace support has opened new paths for recovery and renewal.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which explores the evolving concept of healthcare worker well-being in the post-pandemic era. This Special Issue focuses on the mental health, resilience, and long-term professional sustainability of medical professionals, emphasizing their well-being and its implications for patient care and healthcare system functioning.

While leadership, organizational management, and coaching are relevant topics, we particularly welcome research that links these areas to staff well-being, emotional resilience, and improved patient outcomes. Contributions should go beyond leadership performance or management practices alone and highlight the impact on professionals' welfare and quality of care.

This Special Issue aligns with the scope of the “Medics” section of Healthcare, as it centers on the occupational health, emotional recovery, and the quality of life of medical personnel.

We welcome original research articles and reviews on topics including (but not limited to):

Burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress;
Compassion satisfaction and protective factors;
Mental health interventions and resilience-building strategies;
Leadership and coaching approaches that enhance healthcare professionals’ well-being;
Digital support tools and telehealth for staff;
The role of coaching in reflective practice, emotional regulation, and value-based leadership in healthcare settings.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Maria Antoniadou
Dr. Polyxeni Mangoulia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

healthcare professionals
professional well-being
post-pandemic recovery
burnout
compassion fatigue
secondary traumatic stress
resilience in healthcare
mental health support
staff well-being
occupational stress
work–life balance
sustainable healthcare careers
emotional regulation
reflective practice
value-based leadership
coaching in healthcare
coaching in dentistry
coaching in nursing
leadership for well-being
organizational support
quality of life in healthcare
digital mental health tools
compassion satisfaction
team dynamics in healthcare
health systems
workforce sustainability

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

14 pages, 787 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stress, Resilience, and Sense of Coherence in Healthcare Professionals

by Argyro Pachi, Christos Sikaras, Dimitra Lekka, Dimitrios Kasimis, Athanasios Tselebis and Ioannis Ilias

Healthcare 2026, 14(10), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14101291 - 9 May 2026

Viewed by 911

Abstract

Background: Among healthcare personnel, longitudinal studies have shown high levels of stress before, during and after the pandemic. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between stress, psychological resilience, and sense of coherence in healthcare professionals. Subjects and Methods: In total, 203 healthcare professionals (63 physicians and 140 nurses) completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-13). The age, sex, and profession of the participants were recorded. Results: Women exhibited higher levels of perceived stress compared to males (18.450 ± 7.232 vs. 15.116 ± 5.662, t-test p < 0.05), as well as lower scores on the sense of coherence scale (57.525 ± 13.716 vs. 65.535 ± 12.481, t-test p < 0.05). No differences were observed with respect to profession. High levels of stress were recorded in 12.3% of workers and moderate values in 58.7%. The PSS demonstrated a negative correlation with both the SOC-13 and the BRS. The BRS showed a positive correlation with the SOC-13 (Pearson p < 0.01). Age showed no significant correlation. Linear regression analysis indicated that 49% of the variance in PSS was explained by SOC-13 and 3% by BRS. We subsequently investigated the hypothesis that the BRS may function as a mediator in the relationship between SOC-13 and PSS. Mediation analysis revealed that the BRS acts as a mediator in the relationship between SOC-13 and PSS. The indirect effect of BRS was statistically significant [b = −0.0770, 95% CI (−0.1312, −0.0216), p ≤ 0.01]. Furthermore, even in the presence of BRS mediation, the direct effect of SOC-13 on PSS remained significant [b = −0.2796, 95% CI (−0.3450, −0.2142), p ≤ 0.001]. Conclusions: High rates of stress, particularly in women healthcare professionals, appear to be intrinsically associated with the healthcare profession. It is likely that sense of coherence and psychological resilience can reduce stress, with resilience acting as a mediator. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 1058 KB

Open AccessArticle

After-Hours Service Demands and Dentist Well-Being: Unpacking the Roles of Compassion Satisfaction and Organizational Support

by Fatma Mansour Abdulmawla, Sami Mohammad and Ayse Arslan

Healthcare 2026, 14(9), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091239 - 4 May 2026

Viewed by 412

Abstract

Background/Objective: This study examines how after-hours service demands (AHSD) are associated with dentists’ overall work experience (OWE) through the mediating role of compassion satisfaction (CS) and the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS). Grounded in the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) and Conservation of Resources (COR) theories, the study investigates how job demands, emotional resources, and organizational support jointly relate to dentists’ psychological well-being. Methods: Data were collected from 450 dentists across seven major Libyan cities—Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Sabha, Al Bayda, Zawiya, and Derna—using a structured online questionnaire administered between May and August 2025. Results: Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) results indicated that AHSD were positively associated with both CS and OWE, suggesting that demanding work conditions may, under certain conditions, coincide with more positive professional experiences when perceived as meaningful and supported. CS partially mediated the AHSD–OWE relationship, highlighting its role as a key emotional resource linked to more favorable work experiences. In addition, POS moderated the relationships between AHSD and CS, and between AHSD and OWE, although the effects were relatively modest, indicating that organizational support may provide incremental support in how dentists experience demanding work conditions rather than fundamentally altering these relationships. The moderated mediation analysis further suggested that the indirect association between AHSD and OWE via CS was stronger at higher levels of POS. Conclusions: Overall, the findings refine JD-R and COR perspectives by indicating that job demands, emotional resources, and organizational support are jointly associated with dentists’ work-related well-being in a high-demand healthcare context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 228 KB

Open AccessArticle

Burnout Syndrome Among Critical Care Nurses After COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Single-Centre Study in Croatia and Poland

by Adriano Friganović, Biljana Filipović, Sabina Krupa-Nurcek, Kristian Civka, Cecilija Rotim, Jelena Slijepčević, Ana Brčina, Mohamed Mouhajir and Željko Vlaisavljević

Healthcare 2026, 14(9), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091186 - 28 Apr 2026

Viewed by 620

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Many frontline healthcare professionals had not previously faced a crisis of the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prolonged exposure to high-stress clinical environments may adversely affect psychological well-being. This study aimed to assess and compare burnout severity among critical care nurses in two clinical settings—one hospital in Croatia and one in Poland—with particular attention to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment in the post-pandemic period. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative design was conducted across two hospitals (Croatia and Poland). Data were collected from 346 critical care nurses between September and December 2023. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey, analyzed primarily as continuous scores across its three dimensions. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in continuous burnout scores (Emotional Exhaustion p = 0.224, Depersonalization p = 0.852, Personal Accomplishment p = 0.636, total MBI score p = 0.394). Secondary cut-off-based analyses yielded some categorical differences, including a higher proportion classified as having high burnout in the Polish sample (43.2%) than in the Croatian sample (31.5%); however, these findings were exploratory and should not be interpreted as overriding the primary continuous-score results. Regression analyses demonstrated low explanatory power, with education level emerging as a significant predictor only in the Croatian sample (OR = 0.320, 95% CI: 0.125–0.824, p = 0.018). Conclusions: Burnout severity did not differ significantly between the two clinical settings when assessed using continuous measures. These findings suggest that burnout among ICU nurses may be driven primarily by shared occupational and organizational stressors rather than setting-specific differences. Categorical findings should be interpreted as complementary and exploratory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

18 pages, 648 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mindfulness, Self-Efficacy, Job Stress, and Job Satisfaction in Associated Factors of Turnover Intention: A Regression-Based Path Analysis Among Direct Care Workers

by Hsuan-Pin Chen and Kuo-Chung Huang

Healthcare 2026, 14(5), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14050654 - 4 Mar 2026

Viewed by 787

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine how mindfulness and self-efficacy are associated with turnover intention among direct care workers through the hypothesized indirect pathways involving job stress and job satisfaction. Grounded in the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) and Conservation of Resources (COR) frameworks, the study highlights the buffering and protective functions of psychological resources under high job demands. Methods: A regression-based path analysis was conducted using data collected from a structured questionnaire survey of 967 direct care workers in southern Taiwan. Results: Job stress was positively associated with turnover intention (β = 0.599, p < 0.001), whereas job satisfaction was negatively associated with it (β = −0.139, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy was positively associated with job satisfaction (β = 0.407, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with job stress (β = −0.109, p < 0.001). Mindfulness demonstrated significant direct associations with self-efficacy (β = 0.497, p < 0.001) and job stress (β = −0.200, p < 0.001), but its direct effect on turnover intention was not significant (β = −0.035, p > 0.05), implying its influence is indirect through self-efficacy, job stress, and job satisfaction. Diagnostic checks, including the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), confirmed the absence of multicollinearity issues, and the overall model demonstrated satisfactory explanatory power. Conclusions: These findings enhance understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying turnover intention among care workers and provide practical implications for human resource management and workplace stress interventions in long-term care settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 259 KB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience Protects Nurses from Workplace Gaslighting and Quiet Quitting, and Improves Their Work Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece

by Ioannis Moisoglou, Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Ioanna V. Papathanasiou, Ioanna Prasini, Maria Rekleiti and Petros Galanis

Healthcare 2025, 13(16), 2064; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13162064 - 20 Aug 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3725

Abstract

Background: Although gaslighting is an alarming issue, the literature on predictors of this phenomenon is scarce. Objective: To examine the association between resilience and gaslighting in the workplace, quiet quitting, and work engagement among nurses. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Greece during December 2024. We used the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) to measure levels of resilience in our sample. Moreover, we used the Gaslighting at Work Scale (GWS), the Quiet Quitting Scale, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-3 to measure workplace gaslighting, quiet quitting, and work engagement, respectively. Results: The study population included 462 nurses with a mean age of 36.80 years. We found that resilience protected nurses from workplace gaslighting. After adjusting gender, age, educational level, and work experience, a negative association was found between resilience and GWS score (p < 0.001), loss of self-trust (p < 0.001), and abuse of power (p < 0.001). Moreover, our multivariable analysis identified a negative association between resilience and Quiet Quitting Scale score (p < 0.001), detachment (p < 0.001), lack of initiative (p < 0.001), and lack of motivation (p < 0.001). Additionally, we identified a positive relationship between resilience and work engagement (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggested the protective role of resilience against gaslighting in the workplace and quiet quitting in nurses. Moreover, we found that resilience improved nurses’ work engagement. However, the cross-sectional nature of this study cannot imply causality between the study variables, and, thus, further studies are required to clarify the association between resilience, workplace gaslighting, quiet quitting, and work engagement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

24 pages, 472 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Workplace Mobbing on Positive and Negative Emotions: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience Among Nurses

by Aristotelis Koinis, Ioanna V. Papathanasiou, Ioannis Kouroutzis, Iokasti Papathanasiou, Dimitra Anagnostopoulou, Ioannis Androutsakos, Maria Papandreou, Ioulia Katsaiti, Nikolaos Tsioumas, Melpomeni Mourtziapi, Pavlos Sarafis and Maria Malliarou

Healthcare 2025, 13(15), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151915 - 5 Aug 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2894

Abstract

Background: Workplace mobbing is a widespread phenomenon with serious psychological and emotional consequences on employees’ emotional well-being. Psychological resilience has been identified as a potential protective factor against such adverse outcomes. Aim: This study investigates the relationship between workplace mobbing and emotional well-being, as expressed through positive and negative affect, and examines the mediating role of psychological resilience in this association. Methods: Ninety nurses participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors (WPVB) scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Statistical analyses included correlation, multiple regression, and mediation using bootstrapped confidence intervals. Results: Resilience was strongly associated with positive affect (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and inversely with negative affect (r = −0.46, p < 0.001). Mobbing was significantly related to increased negative affect (β = 0.12, p < 0.001) but not to positive affect. Resilience emerged as the strongest predictor of emotional outcomes and partially mediated the relationship between “Attack on professional role” and negative affect. Conclusions: Psychological resilience plays a key protective role in moderating the emotional impact of workplace mobbing. Enhancing resilience in healthcare professionals may mitigate the negative emotional effects of mobbing, although it does not fully buffer against all its consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

25 pages, 1837 KB

Open AccessReview

Chronobiology-Driven Anti-Aging Strategies for Enhancing Dentists’ Occupational Health and Quality of Life: A Narrative Review

by Theodora Kalogerakou

Healthcare 2026, 14(6), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14060795 - 20 Mar 2026

Viewed by 520

Abstract

Background: Dentists constitute one of the most heavily burdened groups of healthcare professionals, experiencing high levels of musculoskeletal disorders, occupational stress, burnout, and diminished quality of life. Although extensive literature addresses these issues, no study has directly examined biological age or epigenetic markers of aging in this population. This narrative review, informed by systematic methodological principles, seeks to fill this gap by connecting established occupational stressors with contemporary concepts of biological aging and chronomedicine, ultimately proposing a preventive well-being framework specifically for dentists. Methods: A narrative review informed by systematic methodology was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library (2015–2025) used combined keywords and MeSH terms related to lifestyle factors, occupational stress, musculoskeletal disorders, quality of life, and wellness among dentists. Of the 943 records identified, 15 met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for outcomes, methodological quality, and relevant risk factors. Results: The included studies consistently indicated a significant occupational burden, with musculoskeletal pain, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depersonalization as frequent findings. Quality of life was generally moderate to low, especially regarding mental health. Lifestyle patterns were characterized by inadequate sleep, limited physical activity, irregular eating habits, and insufficient recovery. These conditions-chronic stress, poor sleep, inactivity, and suboptimal nutrition-are recognized accelerators of biological aging, implying that the professional demands of dentistry may adversely influence the biological clock. Although none of the studies measured biological age directly, the collective evidence underscores the need for preventive strategies informed by chronomedicine. Conclusions: This review highlights a critical gap in the dental literature: the complete absence of biological-age assessment in a professional population exposed to multiple aging accelerators. Integrating occupational health data with modern concepts of biological aging and chronomedicine, the study proposes a targeted preventive framework to regulate biological rhythms, reduce cumulative biological deterioration, and improve the long-term quality of life and professional sustainability of dentists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

14 pages, 734 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Resilience-Enhancing Programs for Nurses in the Era of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Wonjung Noh and Young Ko

Healthcare 2026, 14(7), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14070906 - 31 Mar 2026

Viewed by 464

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In the post-pandemic era, growing concern about the mental health of healthcare professionals has led to the development of various resilience-enhancing programs. Although such programs are not new, having been implemented before the pandemic, it is important to investigate how post-pandemic programs differ from earlier ones. This review aimed to analyze resilience-enhancing programs for nurses and evaluate their effectiveness. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search was performed in the Cochrane Library, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and EMBASE. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata version 16.0 (StataCorp LLC., College Station, TX, USA). Results: Six studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The characteristics of the included studies, such as country, study design, setting, population, outcome variables, and resilience-enhancing programs for nurses, were analyzed. The random-effects meta-analysis indicated a statistically significant positive effect on nurses’ resilience (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.07, Z = 2.35, p = 0.019). Conclusions: This study provides foundational evidence for understanding resilience-enhancing programs for nurses and highlights their potential value in post-pandemic healthcare settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 772 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Enhancing Dentists’ Resilience and Occupational Sustainability Through Physical Activity: A Systematic Review in the Post-Pandemic Context

by Theodora Kalogerakou and Maria Antoniadou

Healthcare 2025, 13(16), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13161985 - 13 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2249

Abstract

Background: Dental professionals face high levels of occupational stress, which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to increased burnout, diminished well-being, and signs of accelerated biological aging. This systematic review explores the role of physical activity as a protective factor for mental and physical health, with a focus on promoting resilience and long-term occupational sustainability in a post-pandemic volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published between 2000 and 2024 were identified through PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library using MeSH terms related to dentistry, physical activity, stress management, and occupational health. Of 850 records screened, 28 studies were included: 24 cross-sectional, 2 systematic reviews, 1 retrospective, and 1 case–control study. Inclusion and quality appraisal followed standardized criteria. Results: The included studies consistently showed that physical activity was associated with reduced burnout, improved psychological well-being, enhanced postural function, and potential markers of slowed biological aging in dental professionals. Several studies reported moderate-to-strong associations, with effect sizes ranging from small improvements in perceived stress scores to substantial reductions in MSD prevalence. Interventions combining exercise with ergonomic education, stress management, and institutional support demonstrated the stronger and more consistent benefits for professional sustainability. Conclusions: Physical activity, when integrated into comprehensive workplace wellness frameworks, significantly enhances the mental and physical resilience of dental professionals. Embedding movement, ergonomics, and psychosocial support into practice environments offers a promising strategy for safeguarding long-term workforce sustainability and improving public health outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Well-Being of Healthcare Professionals: New Insights After COVID-19

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

Research

Review

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI