# Self‐Regulation of Healthy Lifestyles in the Nursing Workplace: A Mixed‐Method Evaluation

## TL;DR

This study explores how nurses in Singapore manage their health and lifestyle amidst work stress, finding that poor lifestyle habits and moderate stress are common.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into self-regulation challenges and facilitators for healthy lifestyles among nurses in Singapore.

## Key findings

- Nurses reported poor health-promoting lifestyles and moderate stress levels.
- Workplace culture and lack of support were key barriers to healthy living.
- Intrinsic motivation was more influential than external incentives in promoting healthy behaviors.

## Abstract

To understand the experiences of self‐regulation and health‐promoting behaviours among practising nurses in Singapore.

To explore the experiences of self‐regulating health‐promoting behaviours among nurses.

To measure the nurses’ current health‐promoting behaviours and perceived stress levels.

Nursing is a physically and emotionally stressful occupation. While there is existing literature on the influencing factors of self‐care habits among nurses, little is known about the nurses’ self‐regulation facilitators and barriers of maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

A concurrent mixed‐method study was conducted. Twenty‐four full‐time nurses from 15 Singapore healthcare institutions were recruited from August to November 2023 using purposive sampling. In‐depth interviews were conducted online through face‐to‐face virtual platforms using a semistructured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes. Concurrently, 67 full‐time nurses completed questionnaires on their lifestyles and perceived stress. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and limited statistical analysis and integrated with the qualitative study findings.

Five themes and 13 subthemes emerged. The five themes were (1) conflict between nursing and personal identity; (2) overwhelmed with time constraints; (3) power of intrinsic motivation over extrinsic incentives; (4) influence of close contacts at workplace on nurses’ lifestyle and (5) inadequate support for positive lifestyle change. The mean scores for the Health‐Promoting Lifestyle Profile II and Perceived Stress Scale‐10 were 2.39 (SD = 0.38) and 18.39 (SD = 4.58), respectively, indicating that most of the participants had poor lifestyles and were experiencing moderate stress. Additionally, there was a moderate statistically significant negative relationship between perceived stress and health‐promoting lifestyle behaviours (ρ = −0.461).

Nurses’ healthy lifestyle challenges may stem from inadequate organisational support and low personal health prioritisation. Sustainable interventions should address workplace culture and work‐life integration to empower nurses to take ownership of their well‐being.