# The Use of Positive Psychology in Studies with Healthcare Professionals: Scoping Review and Implications for Professional Support

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how positive psychology can improve healthcare professionals' well-being, offering insights for better workplace support and policy.

## Contribution

The study synthesizes evidence on applying Positive Psychology to healthcare professionals, identifying three key themes for improving their mental health.

## Key findings

- Positive Psychology interventions promote emotional and psychological well-being in healthcare professionals.
- Strengthening personal resources and virtues through self-assessment is effective in improving work-related outcomes.
- Professional appreciation and a positive organizational climate are critical for supporting healthcare workers.

## Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Work-related illness among healthcare professionals represents a critical public health issue, as it directly affects the quality, continuity, and safety of care provided to populations.Addressing this issue also requires the consideration of individual-level factors such as personal resources, coping strategies, and psychological strengths. By incorporating these dimensions into research and intervention design, it becomes possible to develop more effective and comprehensive approaches that integrate both systemic and individual determinants of occupational health.

Work-related illness among healthcare professionals represents a critical public health issue, as it directly affects the quality, continuity, and safety of care provided to populations.

Addressing this issue also requires the consideration of individual-level factors such as personal resources, coping strategies, and psychological strengths. By incorporating these dimensions into research and intervention design, it becomes possible to develop more effective and comprehensive approaches that integrate both systemic and individual determinants of occupational health.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
This work is significant because it addresses the well-being of healthcare professionals as a key factor in the quality and continuity of care.By integrating psychological dimensions into the analysis of occupational stress, the study broadens the scope of public health approaches, supporting interventions that promote emotional well-being, prevent illness, and strengthen the workforce at both individual and systemic levels.

This work is significant because it addresses the well-being of healthcare professionals as a key factor in the quality and continuity of care.

By integrating psychological dimensions into the analysis of occupational stress, the study broadens the scope of public health approaches, supporting interventions that promote emotional well-being, prevent illness, and strengthen the workforce at both individual and systemic levels.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
There is a need to prioritize pre-service and in-service training models that proactively support healthcare workers’ well-being, rather than relying solely on reactive interventions aimed at treating stress after it has developed.Findings of the scoping review provide evidence-based insights for policy and practice, highlighting interventions that (a) improve emotional and psychological well-being, (b) strengthen personal resources through reflection, and (c) foster professional respect and a positive organizational climate.

There is a need to prioritize pre-service and in-service training models that proactively support healthcare workers’ well-being, rather than relying solely on reactive interventions aimed at treating stress after it has developed.

Findings of the scoping review provide evidence-based insights for policy and practice, highlighting interventions that (a) improve emotional and psychological well-being, (b) strengthen personal resources through reflection, and (c) foster professional respect and a positive organizational climate.

Twenty-five years after the inception of Positive Psychology, its principles are still perceived to be underutilized in addressing working conditions or providing care to healthcare professionals. This article aims to synthesize evidence on the use of Positive Psychology in supporting healthcare workers. A detailed data search and analysis strategy was employed to identify scientific evidence that could answer the following guiding question: What empirical evidence is available regarding the effects of applying Positive Psychology principles or interventions to the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals? Ten articles were selected and analyzed using the META-CORE model (Meta-level Conceptual, Operational, Reflective Evaluation). Based on the main findings of the ten reviewed studies, three themes were developed: (1) promotion of emotional and psychological well-being, gathering evidence that reflects subjective changes among healthcare professionals; (2) strengthening of personal resources and virtues through a process of self-perception and self-assessment within the work context; and (3) professional appreciation and a positive organizational climate. This scoping review contributes to strengthening the theoretical foundation of current attention to the situation of healthcare workers, aligning more clearly with the conceptual bases of Positive Psychology and its concern with mental health and the growing imperative to address contemporary challenges.