Impact on Human Health, Lifestyle and Quality of Care After COVID-19, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology & Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2025 | Viewed by 1650

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Community Health, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: lifestyle; nutrition; public health; epidemiology of chronic diseases
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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Human Sciences, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: mental health; quality of life; well-being of students
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We thank authors who submitted valuable original articles to the previous Special Issue, ‘Impact on Human Health, Lifestyle and Quality of Care After COVID-19’, which undeniably benefited the research community. In light of this success, we now present the second edition of this Special Issue.

The COVID-19 pandemic induced many changes in the lifestyles of people of all ages. Many countries adopted measures to restrict individuals’ movement as part of efforts to reduce the number of people infected with COVID-19. These measures led to social isolation, working from home, the home-schooling of children and students, and a lack of physical activity. Social distancing and sedentary behaviors are associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, low mood and sleep disturbances. Sedentary behaviors and screen time may also be associated with nutrition changes and weight gain. Moreover, remote working has continued after the pandemic as an alternative to physical work, or in hybrid working modes in some economic areas. It has been demonstrated that acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) can trigger the presentation or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. In addition, the consequences of the pandemic must be evaluated with regard to people who suffered from functional limitations before COVID-19, as their physical and mental condition may have been affected by the pandemic.

In this Special Issue, we will discuss the long-term impacts of lifestyle changes on and the consequences of the pandemic for human health to improve patient quality of life.

Dr. Bogdana Nasui
Guest Editor

Dr. Codruta Popescu
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • lifestyle changes
  • weight gain
  • physical activity
  • remote working
  • distance learning
  • mental health
  • autoimmune diseases
  • chronic diseases

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 599 KiB  
Article
Coping Strategies Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Emotional Responses, Challenges, and Adaptive Practices
by Aida Puia, Sorina Rodica Pop, Bianca Olivia Cojan Manzat, Sebastian Pintea, Ion Cosmin Puia and Mihaela Fadgyas-Stanculete
Medicina 2025, 61(2), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61020311 - 11 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare workers, leading to significant psychological distress, altered health-related behaviors, and reliance on various coping mechanisms. Understanding these impacts is critical for developing targeted interventions to support healthcare professionals. This study [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare workers, leading to significant psychological distress, altered health-related behaviors, and reliance on various coping mechanisms. Understanding these impacts is critical for developing targeted interventions to support healthcare professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological stressors, emotional responses, changes in healthy behaviors, and coping mechanisms employed by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study further examined differences across demographic and professional groups and explored correlations between stressors, coping strategies, and emotional outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 338 healthcare workers, including physicians and nurses, in urban and rural healthcare settings during the pandemic. Data were collected using validated instruments to measure emotional responses (anxiety and anger), lifestyle behaviors (dietary habits, sleep patterns, physical activity, and smoking), and coping strategies. Statistical analyses included descriptive, inferential, and correlation techniques to assess relationships between variables. Results: Fear of infecting family members (M = 3.36, SD = 0.86) and concerns about inadequate protective equipment (M = 2.80, SD = 0.95) were the most significant stressors, strongly associated with heightened anxiety and anger. Changes in healthy behaviors were observed: 69.2% maintained a healthy meal schedule, 56.5% reported disrupted sleep patterns, and only 39.6% engaged in regular physical activity. Among smokers (27.5%), 31.1% increased smoking as a maladaptive coping strategy, while 21.1% reduced smoking. Nurses predominantly relied on emotion-focused strategies, such as religious coping and venting, whereas physicians favored problem-focused strategies like planning and active coping. Social support emerged as a protective factor, mitigating stress and facilitating adaptive coping. Conclusions: The study revealed significant psychological and behavioral impacts on healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stressors included the fear of infecting family members, concerns about inadequate protective measures, and the prolonged uncertainty of the pandemic, which contributed to heightened levels of anxiety and anger. Changes in healthy behaviors, such as disrupted sleep patterns, decreased physical activity, and increased reliance on maladaptive coping mechanisms, further underscored the multifaceted challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Although the acute phase of the pandemic has passed, the long-term consequences on the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers remain critical concerns. Further research is essential to develop effective strategies for monitoring, preventing, and addressing psychological distress among healthcare professionals, ensuring their preparedness for future public health crises. Full article
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