Are We Ignoring the Hardship of Nurses: Occupational Stress Experienced by Nurses, a Mixed-method Enquiry from India

Occupational Stress and Mental Health Relationship in Nurses

Aims and objectives: To examine if Jordanian nurses’ job stressors are different in various practice areas in hospitals, particularly in stressful or non-stressful clinical areas of work. Background: Nursing is a stressful profession. Nurses’ job stressors have been studied in Jordan, but none compared job stressors in different clinical areas. There is a need to identify nurses’ job stressors in different clinical areas to better manage them. Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used. Data about job stressors and demographics were collected from a convenience sample of 464 Jordanian nurses working in Jordanian hospitals. Nursing Stress Scale was used to measure nurses’ job stressors. Findings: Nurses’ job stressors experienced by nurses working in stressful areas were significantly different from those stressors experienced by nurses working in non-stressful areas in five subscales out of seven. Nurses’ job stressors in non-stressful areas were best predicted by one variable, ‘model of nursing care provision’, whereas nurses’ job stressors in stressful areas were best predicted by two variables: ‘shift worked’ and ‘level of education’. Conclusions: Providing access to educational programs, not only in clinical areas, but in teamwork, communication, family interactions, and stress management will reduce nurses’ job stressors in different clinical areas. Relevance to clinical practice: Knowing different stressors in different clinical areas among Jordanian nurses help nurse managers and hospital administrators to adopt strategies that manage job stressors effectively in different clinical areas of work. Examples of these strategies are scheduling, reduce workload, and improve work environment.

Introduction: Current research was conducted with the aim of predicting extra-role behaviors by examining job commitment, organizational loyalty, stress perception, justice perception, conscientiousness, and internal work motivation among faculty members of Wasit University in Iraq. Materials and Methods: Research method was correlational and statistical population included all faculty members of Wasit University in summer of 2024. Out of the stated statistical population, 250 individuals were selected using convenience sampling, and a set of questionnaires included extra-role behaviors (Lee and Allen, 2002), perceptions of organizational justice (Colquitt, 2001), internal job motivation (Gagne et al., 2015)), conscientiousness (McCrae and Costa, 1992), Blau's (1993) job commitment, organizational loyalty (Kumar and Shekhar, 2012) and job stress (Cohen et al., 1964). The research data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis via the stepwise method, utilizing SPSS software version 25. Results: The results indicated a notable positive correlation among job commitment, organizational loyalty, perception of justice, internal motivation, and conscientiousness with extra-role behaviors, while a significant negative correlation was found between job stress perception and extra-role behaviors (p<0.01). Moreover, results from the stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that, out of all predictor variables during the three steps, justice perception, internal motivation, and organizational loyalty could account for 45% of the variance of extra-role behaviors. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, fostering extra-role behaviors among academic staff requires a focus on providing essential platforms that enhance job commitment, promote organizational loyalty, improve perceptions of justice, boost internal motivation, encourage conscientiousness, and diminish stress.. This should be taken into consideration by the policymakers of Iraqi higher education system.

Informed by the Demand Resources and Individual Effects model (DRIVE; Mark & Smith, 2008), we assessed how work and individual characteristics were associated with perceived job stress, and psychological wellbeing outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression, positive mood) in a cross-sectional study with two British police forces (N = 852 officers and staff). Work characteristics predicted psychological wellbeing outcomes both directly and indirectly through the perception of job stress. Work resources and individual characteristics moderated the relationships between work demands, perception of job stress and psychological wellbeing outcomes. The associations between perception of work demands, job stress and psychological wellbeing outcomes were improved in police officers and staff who reported moderate-high physical activity behavior. This study added new knowledge to the domain as it was the first to test the DRIVE model in its entirety in an occupational setting. It also provided new insight into the multi-dimensional factors associated with psychological wellbeing in policing. Practically, the findings implied a reduction of work demands, or interventions that target appraisals and/or physical activity might improve psychological wellbeing in police workers.

BackgroundChronotype, which is a person’s circadian characteristics throughout a day, greatly influences a person’s lifestyle, health, and sleep pattern; however, the association between job stress and chronotype remains unknown to date. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the effects of chronotype on the job stress response, and the mediating effects of sleep disturbance using path analysis.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 535 adult volunteers (239 men and 296 women; average age, 41.2 ± 11.9 years) from the community. Participants were evaluated using the Diurnal Type Scale for chronotype, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index for sleep disturbance, Brief Job Stress Questionnaire for job stressors, and the psychological and physical stress response (PPSR). To investigate the association between chronotype, sleep disturbance, perceived job stressors, and PPSR, a covariance structure analysis was performed.ResultsThe eveningness chronotype had a significant weak direct effect on sleep disturbance, perceived job stressors, and PPSR, and had a significant indirect effect through sleep disturbance. The perceived job stressors indirectly increased PPSR through sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance mediated the effects of the eveningness chronotype and perceived job stressors on PPSR. This model accounted for 37.3% of the variability in PPSR of adult workers.ConclusionChronotype affected PPSR through sleep disturbance. Therefore, improving the sleep disturbance of workers with the eveningness chronotype may reduce their stress response.

Objective: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hastens the global health care systems which take the lead to great psychological stress on health care professionals especially nurses with COVID-19 illness patient care. This study focused on perceived job stress and covid-19 pandemic related job stress predictors among nurses working in ministry of health hospitals and health centers in Muhayil Aseer town, Saudi Arabia during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study addressed to examine the prevalent perceived job stress and covid-19 related perceived job stress predictors among nurses. A web-based google form english questionnaire was designed in sections aimed at collecting socio demographic and job variables, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Covid-19 pandemic related job stress predictors questionnaire. The data were collected using convenient sampling technique.Results: 164 nurses have participated in this study among them, the overall nurses 97.57 % had experienced job stress during peak time of Corona virus spread and of them more than half (59.76 %) of the (98) nurses had moderate level of job stress and the mean PSS score 21.8 that represents moderate stress level. In multivariate regression analysis model, the perceived safety risk (LR= 95.53, χ² (6) = 27.91, P=.000), perceived worry (LR= 97.23, χ²(6) = 29.60, P=.000) and perceived work difficulty (LR= 100.92, χ²(6) = 33.29, P=.000) were found as significant predictors of perceived job stress during Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: This study revealed that job stress is a common prevailing problem among nurses and the COVID-19 pandemic related job stress predictors were perceived safety risk and perceived worry about health while covid-19 exposure and perceived work difficulty as overworked during pandemic. Although efforts were enhanced to support their psychological well-being, more attention should be paid to the mental health of nursing staffs. The study recommends that strong strategy improvements need to be held in the health care institutions to reduce nurses' stress and enable them to combat the ongoing and future occurrences of pandemic effectively.

To identify job stress and intention to quit in newly-graduated nurses during the first three months of their work at two different levels of hospitals and to understand factors that may influence their retention. Given the current nursing shortage, retention of newly-graduated nurses is crucial. Design. A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Newly-graduated nurses' perceptions of job stress and intention to quit at different time periods during the first three months in addition to related factors were measured using structured questionnaires in two levels of hospitals in central Taiwan. Subjects experienced somewhat stressful conditions (Mean = 2.89, SD 0.62) and 31.5% intended to quit. Job stress was the highest at 0-1 month and the intention to quit was highest at 1-2 months. The intention-to-quit group had significantly higher job stress with regard to roles/interpersonal relationships than the intention-to-stay group [t(144) = 2.65, p = 0.009]. Logistic regressions indicated that higher job stress (odds ratio = 2.26; 95% CI 1.14-4.51), working at a medical centre (odds ratio = 3.61; 95% CI 1.10-10.92) and not having had a clinical practicum in the working hospital (odds ratio = 2.41; 95% CI 1.01-5.77) were significant predictors associated with the intention to quit. Newly-graduated nurses perceived moderate job stress which significantly influenced their intention to quit. Nursing administrators should assist newly-graduated nurses in role adaptation and interpersonal relationships particularly to those who had previously worked only in medical centres and had never done a clinical practicum in the hospital. Our findings provide concrete directions to nursing administrators in developing a stress-alleviation programme to decrease newly-graduate nurses' job stress, to facilitate them successful entry into practice and to decrease their intention to quit.

Perceived job stress and sleep-related breathing disturbance in Japanese male workers

China is reforming its health care system, which aimed to strengthen primary health care through building community health centers (stations) and assigning a "gate-keeper" role to primary care providers. Community nurses play a key role in the reform. Little is known about the level of job stress among community nurses. Thus, this study aims to explore the level of perceived job stress and its influencing factors among community nurses. A cross-sectional design was used to conduct a survey with 1015 nurses from 56 community health centers in Sichuan province. Job stress was measured by the Community Nurses Stress Scale. Data were collected between March and November 2015. Community health nurses in China perceived high levels of job stress. The job stress was related to nurses' individual characteristics and work environments. Permanently employed nurses, shift workers, and those older than 45years age and with less training related to community nursing and involvement in childcare were more likely to experience high levels of stress. Reform is required of the community nursing personnel system, and development of continuing education programs and stress-alleviating measures to reduce community nurses' job stress. The results of this study favour future advanced practice community health nursing practice and education.

Background: the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges in the healthcare field, notably affecting nursing professionals working in critical areas. These challenges have impacted their professional quality of life (PQoL) and increased job stress levels, which are crucial for both the well-being of healthcare personnel and the quality of care provided to patients. Objective: this study aims to explore the relationship between professional quality of life and job stress among nurses at a medium-complexity hospital in Lima, Peru, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational methodology was used, with a non-probabilistic sample of 59 nurses. Data were collected through online questionnaires assessing PQoL and job stress, using validated tools such as the Nursing Stress Scale and the PQoL-35 Questionnaire. Results: the majority of participants (69,5 %) perceive their PQoL as good, highlighting high levels of intrinsic motivation and perceived quality of life. In contrast, workload was the most negatively valued aspect. Job stress was perceived as low overall, and a moderate positive correlation between PQoL and job stress (r = 0,517; p < 0,05) was found, suggesting that better working conditions could improve PQoL. Workload was identified as a significant factor of job stress. Conclusions: despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic, nurses maintain a positive perception of their PQoL, especially in terms of intrinsic motivation and perceived quality of life. However, workload is highlighted as a critical factor of job stressBackground: the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges in the healthcare field, notably affecting nursing professionals working in critical areas. These challenges have impacted their professional quality of life (PQoL) and increased job stress levels, which are crucial for both the well-being of healthcare personnel and the quality of care provided to patients. Objective: this study aims to explore the relationship between professional quality of life and job stress among nurses at a medium-complexity hospital in Lima, Peru, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational methodology was used, with a non-probabilistic sample of 59 nurses. Data were collected through online questionnaires assessing PQoL and job stress, using validated tools such as the Nursing Stress Scale and the PQoL-35 Questionnaire. Results: the majority of participants (69,5 %) perceive their PQoL as good, highlighting high levels of intrinsic motivation and perceived quality of life. In contrast, workload was the most negatively valued aspect. Job stress was perceived as low overall, and a moderate positive correlation between PQoL and job stress (r = 0,517; p < 0,05) was found, suggesting that better working conditions could improve PQoL. Workload was identified as a significant factor of job stress. Conclusions: despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic, nurses maintain a positive perception of their PQoL, especially in terms of intrinsic motivation and perceived quality of life. However, workload is highlighted as a critical factor of job stress

Objective: The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the job satisfaction and stress of the health professionals working in a state hospital according to their sociodemographic characteristics and to reveal whether there are any relations between them. Methods: Data have been obtained by means of a form including Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale, Perceived Job Stress Scale and sociodemographic variables on totally 180 health professionals who are employed in Sivas Numune Hospital. Findings: In our study, it was evaluated that the job satisfaction points of the males were higher when compared to females, those of post-graduates were higher than those of graduates and undergraduates and those of doctors were higher than those of nurses in a statistically important level. The external satisfaction points of the group over 45 when compared to that of the group under 34 and those of other health professionals when compared to nurses were found to be statistically higher. It was found that job stress points of women were higher compared to males, those of the graduates of secondary education, undergraduates and graduates were higher than those of postgraduates, and the job stress points of the nurses were higher than those of doctors and other health professionals. There is a meaningful negative correlation between job satisfaction and job stress. No statistically important difference was found with reference to their marital status, whether they have children and their work years. Results: In our study, job satisfaction and job stress of the health care professionals were studied sociodemographically. In healthcare institutions, besides the satisfaction of the patients, it is also important to deal with and find solutions to the problems of the health care personnel for the establishment of job satisfaction and eliminate job stress.

Background: Nursing is a noble profession, which comes with a lot of responsibilities, workload, and demands made by the various stakeholders of health-care industry. Maintaining an empathic nurse–patient relationship is at its core, irrespective of the types of nursing care being rendered. This study aims to assess the association between perceived job stress and satisfaction, empathy, and spiritual beliefs on burnout and emotional distress, in nurses. Methodology: A cross-sectional research design was undertaken to meet the study objectives. Data were collected from a total of 257 consenting nurses, using the modified Consultants Job Stress and Satisfaction questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Health Provider Version, and General Health Questionnaire-12. Results: High empathy was related to lower depersonalization (DP) and higher personal accomplishment. Nurses who agreed on to their work beliefs being influenced by spiritual beliefs also had more commonly reported high job stress. More than a third (34.24%) of the nurses were emotionally distressed with a significant score in General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The GHQ-12 score significantly varied with high emotional exhaustion (EE), high DP, and job stress. Conclusion: Empathy and spiritual belief act as modifying factors for job stress and job satisfaction, respectively. A significant proportion of the nurses were found to have emotional distress which was significantly related to EE, DP, and job stress. A training module including strategies to build empathetic skills, stress management, and ways to promote psychological well-being, should be embedded in the curriculum of new graduate nurses.

BackgroundVictimization in childhood profoundly influences the mental health of individuals in adulthood, causing depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, and self-harm, which leads to productivity loss in the workplace, ie, presenteeism. However, the specific effects of victimization on presenteeism remain unclear. We hypothesized that victimization affects the presenteeism of workers through neuroticism and perceived job stressors and analyzed the association among these factors by path analysis.MethodsA questionnaire survey, including demographic and clinical data, Japanese versions of victimization scale in childhood, Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ), was administered to 443 adult volunteers between April 2017 and April 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Multiple variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis and path analysis. The Institutional Review Board of Tokyo Medical University approved this study.ResultsPath analysis demonstrated that neuroticism and perceived job stressors had direct effects on presenteeism in the WLQ. Victimization indirectly increased presenteeism via neuroticism and its subsequent effects on perceived job stressors. This model accounted for 18% of the variability of presenteeism (R2 = 0.180).LimitationsThere may be possible recall bias owing to the self-administration of the questionnaire. In addition, this study had a cross-sectional design, and hence the causal associations among variables should be validated in a prospective study.ConclusionThe present study indicates that the experience of victimization in childhood is a risk factor of adulthood presenteeism, and this effect is mediated by neuroticism and adverse effects on job stressors. These results suggest that multiple factors, including childhood victimization, neuroticism, and job stressors, should be considered when assessing and preventing presenteeism.

The mediation effect of PTSD, perceived job stress and resilience on the relationship between trauma exposure and the development of depression and alcohol use problems in Korean firefighters: A cross-sectional study

Aim:The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) and perceived job stress among physical therapists (PTs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods:A cross-sectional study design was adopted; 300 PTs working within the KSA were randomly selected, and the KAP questionnaire was distributed through email using a Google form during the first quarter of 2022. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information, KAP, and perceived stress level at the job. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 20.0.Results:Most PTs are knowledgeable about the management of COVID-19 patients, where their overall correct response to the items of the knowledge-related questionnaire was 87%. Most PTs had positive attitudes toward successful control of COVID-19 (83%) and took necessary precautions, such as frequent handwashing (97.2%) and adherence to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines (91.5%) during practice. The overall job stress level of the PTs was ‘Moderate’ (76.5%). This study showed a significant association between the level of job stress experienced by the PTs and selected demographic variables.Conclusion:PTs have adequate knowledge, exhibit a positive attitude and adhere to CDC guidelines while managing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most PTs are prone to moderate job stress while managing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and appropriate strategies must be devised to alleviate their job stress and improve their efficiency. (www.actabiomedica.it)