Effects of the Anger Management Program for Nurses

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an anger management program on anger, job stress, psychological well-being, and heart rate variability in clinical nurses. A quasi-experimental study was conducted using a nonequivalent control group, pre-post test design with repeated measures. The participants included 43 nurses assigned to the experimental and control groups. Anger, job stress, psychological well-being, and heart rate variability were evaluated before the intervention, immediately after the completion of the intervention, and four weeks after the end of the intervention. Chi-square test, t-test, Fisher's exact test, and GEE (Generalized Estimating Equations) were used to analyze the data. There were significant differences in the level of anger, state anger, job stress, and psychological well-being between the two groups. The rate of change in the total power (TP) and the high-frequency band (HF) of the experimental group increased immediately after the intervention completion, but that of the control group decreased at the same time. The above results demonstrate that an anger management program for nurses effectively attenuated anger and job stress, improved psychological well-being, and regulated heart rate variability.