Healthy Orthorexia and Orthorexia Nervosa Among Nurses in Qatar

The pathological dimension of orthorexia, called orthorexia nervosa (OrNe), includes an obsessive focus on healthy eating with emotional distress. A non-pathological dimension of orthorexia is healthy orthorexia (HeOr), which is an interest in healthy food and eating behaviors. Among healthcare workers, nurses play a vital role in influencing changes directly or indirectly through their therapeutic relationship with clients, their families, and society.

This study aims to investigate OrNe and HeOr among nurses, exploring the influence of personality, body appreciation, and social media use.

This was an institutional online survey-based cross-sectional study designed with a quantitative research approach conducted among the Nurses in Qatar's premier healthcare provider, Hamad Medical Corporation.

The study analyzed 300 participants, predominantly female (71.7%) and aged 31-40 years (51.0%), with the majority being Indian nurses (48.4%) and married (80.0%). Personality traits, diet, and lifestyle factors significantly influence psychological and behavioral outcomes. Higher conscientiousness was linked to lower social media use and reduced OrNe risk, while social media mediated its impact on HeOr. Body appreciation was positively associated with HeOr, unaffected by social media. Age, gender, and relationship status significantly influenced neuroticism, openness, and conscientiousness, highlighting nuanced relationships between demographics, personality, and health behaviors.

The study highlights significant associations between demographic factors, personality traits, and health-related behaviors among nurses. Conscientiousness and agreeableness were protective against OrNe, with social media use playing a mediating role. Body appreciation and HeOr were positively correlated, emphasizing the need to consider personality and lifestyle factors in promoting psychological well-being and balanced health behaviors among healthcare professionals.