Health-related behaviours of nurses in Poland: The role of Type D personality.

Aim: To evaluate the factors affecting the health-related behaviours among nurses in Poland, including the influence of Type D personality.

Background: Some nurses appear to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle to cope with the stressful nature of their work, which can affect their professional performance and contribute to the burden on our health care system. However, the factors driving the health-related behaviours among nurses in Poland have not been adequately studied.

Method: This was a descriptive study conducted from June 2017 to May 2018 among nurses (N = 1,080) working primary care or in training facilities in Silesia, Poland. Data were acquired through a series of questionnaires and are presented as descriptive statistics.

Results: A total of 379 (35%) nurses consumed alcohol in a harmful way, and ~20% were smokers. Almost all nurses (94.5%) could make dietary improvements. Over half (68%) reported moderate stress levels, and 179 (16.6%) were extremely stressed. Compared with non-Type D individuals, nurses with Type D personality more commonly used ineffective techniques for dealing with stress (i.e. denial and abreaction; p <.001), had lower mood (p <.001) and had a poorer diet (p = .001).

Conclusion: The majority of nurses in Poland lead an unhealthy lifestyle and report moderate to severe levels of stress. Nurses with Type D personality more commonly use ineffective techniques for dealing with stress (i.e. avoidance strategies), have lower mood and have a poorer diet than those with non-Type D personality.

Implications For Nursing Management: Promoting healthy behaviours and developing stress management techniques among nurses, particularly those with Type D personality, may improve nurses' well-being and professional performance, and help set a better example for patients.