The Role of Leisure Activities in Mitigating Mental Health Disorders Among Healthcare Workers During the (COVID)-19 Pandemic in Taiwan

Objectives: The most beneficial leisure activities for the mental health of hospital healthcare workers remain unidentified. This study investigated the effects of leisure activities on the mental health of hospital healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study conducted from September to October, 2022, involved 492 respondents on an anonymous, self-administered, structured questionnaire that inquired into basic characteristics, frequency of participation in leisure activities, and psychological distress. Results: After several covariates were controlled for, the frequency of leisure activity was associated with anxiety (odds ratio [OR]: 0.60, p = .011) and hostility (OR: 0.59, p = .007). Specifically, the frequency of social leisure activities was inversely associated with anxiety, hostility, depression, and psychological morbidity. The frequency of entertainment leisure activities was also inversely associated with anxiety, hostility, depression, interpersonal sensitivity/inferiority, and psychological morbidity. Conclusion: This study stands out for its emphasis on the influence of leisure activities on the mental health of healthcare workers, specifically, social and entertainment activities are most beneficial for their mental well-being. Hospital management should prioritize and regularly assess healthcare workers' mental health. Proactively designing facilities and opportunities for social and entertainment activities can improve job satisfaction, quality of life, and patient care quality.