Wellness program preferences and associated factors among Chinese Health Care Professionals during the COVID-19...

There is a dearth of information on wellness program preferences and influencing factors among Chinese health care professionals (HCPs). This study begins to establish a foundation for wellness programming for HCPs in China, especially during public health crises. It sought to (a) examine differences in wellness program preferences across the COVID-19 pandemic phases; (b) identify wellness program patterns and preferences; and (c) explore the influence of sociodemographic and psychological factors on these preferences. One hundred eighty participants (mean age of 33.1 ± 7.8 years) were HCPs from two hospitals in China who completed a battery of measures regarding preference for wellness programs (Wellness Programming Preferences Questionnaire), psychological symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21), attitudes about professional help-seeking (Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form), and coping styles (Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire). Findings revealed that interactive and interpersonal wellness programs were preferred consistently throughout the pandemic. Peer support outreach (53.1%) and various onsite interactive programs, including wellness programming activities (50.6%), relaxation groups (46.7%), and in-person counseling (41.1%), were among the most preferred options. Further, HCPs with higher levels of help-seeking attitudes, t(145) = 3.28, p = .001, and positive coping styles, t(154) = 2.70, p = .008, endorsed higher preferences for an array of wellness programs. Our findings underscore the importance of developing and implementing interactive and interpersonally focused wellness programs to enhance the psychological well-being of Chinese HCPs. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of culturally sensitive wellness programs for HCPs and compare wellness programming preferences worldwide. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).