High Levels Of Occupational Stress Research Articles

Occupational stress among Norwegian physicians: A literature review of long-term prospective studies 2007-2019.

There are signs of increased stress at work among Norwegian physicians over the last decades, not least among general practitioners (GPs). In this review, we identify trends in both occupational stress and adverse work-related predictors of such stress and burnout in Norwegian physicians. We performed an extensive literature search using MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO. We included prospective and repeated cross-sectional studies of work stress among Norwegian physicians published in 2007-2019. Nine studies with observation periods of 1-20 years were included. Occupational stress (global measure) among all doctors decreased gradually from medical school to 20 years later. The prevalence of an effort-reward imbalance increased fourfold among GPs during the period 2010-2019. Five studies reported higher levels of occupational stress among female physicians than among their male colleagues. Work-home conflict levels increased after graduation until 10 years after leaving medical school and plateaued thereafter. Physicians who graduated in a later cohort reported lower levels of work-home conflict and less workplace violence. Work-home conflict, low colleague support, number of work hours and workload/low autonomy were all independent predictors of occupational stress. The reduction in occupational stress during the years after leaving medical school may result from increased competency in clinical work and decreased on-call work. The Co-ordination Act implemented in 2012 may explain the increase in occupational stress among GPs. These findings suggest that both reducing work-home conflict and increasing colleague support are important for doctors' well-being.

Arterial hypertension in the Arctic: the role of stress and autonomic dysfunction, gender differences

Introduction. Psychological stress and autonomic dysfunction are recognized as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, but they affect cardiovascular risk differently in men and women.Aim: To study gender differences in factors influencing the probability of detecting arterial hypertension (AH) from the perspective of the role of stress, autonomic dysfunction and nonspecific inflammation in rotational shift workers in the Arctic region.Material and Methods. In the medical unit of the gas production company “Gazprom dobycha Yamburg” (polar settlement of Yamburg, 68°21’40”N) we simultaneously examined 99 men and 81 women with AH 1,2 degree of AH and normotensive persons comparable in age (p = 0.450), work experience in the Arctic (p = 0.956), number of years of rotational shift work (p = 0.824), level of office systolic (SBP) (p = 0.251) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.579). Questionnaires were used to determine the level of general stress (PSM25 scale), occupational stress (Vaisman questionnaire); assessment of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function (Wayne A.M. questionnaire); 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was performed; biochemical blood test for biomarkers of inflammation, cortisol, brain natriuretic peptide precursor, homocysteine, folliclestimulating hormone was carrued out.Results. Vegetative manifestations (asthenization, increased fatigue, meteorological dependence, headaches) were significantly more often observed in women. Among men with AH, individuals with high levels of neuropsychological tension predominated, every fifth M had a high level of occupational stress. The median scores on the Wayne A.M. questionnaire were significantly higher in women, regardless of BP, and moderate ANS disorders were significantly more prevalent. According to logistic regression data, a significant effect on the probability of AH in men was the number of stress scores (OR = 1.050; 1.029–1.171, p = 0.001), indicators of nocturnal DBP variability (OR = 1.295; 1.109–1.511, p = 0.001) and nonspecific inflammation: rise in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) increased the probability of AH by 1.5 times (OR = 1.532; 1.212–1.937, p = 0.001), IL-1β – by 7 times (OR = 7.275; 3.235–16.361, p = 0.001). The probability of AH in women increased by the values of the daily variability of SBP (OR = 1.154; 1.019–1.306, p = 0.024), hs-CRP by 1.5 times (OR = 1.479; 1.226–1.783, p = 0.001), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (OR = 1.111; 1.001–1.244, p = 0.044), level of IL-6 increased the probability of AH by 1.7 times (OR = 1.676; 1.149–2.958, p = 0.035), the number of scores on ANS questionnaire had a significant effect (OR = 1.055; 1.006–1.107, p = 0.026).Conclusion. In the conditions of the rotational shift work in the Arctic, gender differences were revealed in the stress perception and the severity of ANS dysfunction with a clear relationship between stress, inflammation and AH in men. ANS dysfunction in women was a trigger of nonspecific inflammation and AH. The identified gender differences will help to reveal vulnerable groups among men and women and develop targeted interventions for individuals in the Arctic region.

Effects of Occupational Stress on the Mental Health of Nurses in the Limbe and Buea Regional Hospitals, Cameroon

Purpose: Nursing is an extremely stressful job, and high levels of occupational stress are believed to have negative effects on nurses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of occupational stress, factors contributing to occupational stress on nurses and effects of occupational stress on nurses’ mental health. A cross-sectional study design was used. The study duration was five months. A sample of 102 nurses was purposively selected to take part in the study from the Limbe and Buea Regional Hospitals, Cameroon and distributed by probability proportionate to size. Data was collected using a well structured questionnaire and entered into an excel spreadsheet then analyzed using the Weiman Occupational Stress Scale(WOSS).
 Materials and Methods: Data was presented using tables. A cut off point of 43.6 was used to determine the level of stress. Anyone above 43.6 had severe and anyone below 43.6 had mild effects.
 Findings: The study found out that nurses of the hospital were found to experience above average levels of occupational stress with the mean score and individual average score of 59.93 and 3.40 indicating a 51% higher than the established Weiman Occupational Stress Scale mean score of 33.75 and individual average of 2.25. The study found out that 61% of the nurses had severe stress while 39% had mild stress. The study also found that the most common stressors were Long work hours, handling a large number of patients alone and insufficient salary whilst the effects of occupational stress on mental health include: poor appetite, insomnia, depressive mood, trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping not too much, forgetfulness.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Nurses should identify and use mechanisms that help them to better cope with stress.

Understanding the Role of Empathy and Gender on EMS Clinician Occupational Stress and Mental Health Outcomes

Background Emergency Medical Service (EMS) clinicians experience high levels of occupational stress due to long hours, short staffing, and patient deaths, among other factors. While gender has been partially examined, little is known regarding the role of empathy on occupational stress and mental health (MH) outcomes among EMS clinicians. Therefore, the current study examines the moderating role of empathy and, separately, gender on associations between occupational stress and mental health. Methods A cross-sectional examination of EMS clinician occupational and personal wellbeing was conducted via an anonymous, electronic survey. Information on clinician demographics, and validated measures of occupational stress, burnout, and MH outcomes were collected. Empathy was assessed using the Toronto Empathy Scale (TEQ). Descriptive/bivariate statistics were conducted for variables of interest. Separate multivariable regression models evaluated associations between occupational stress and mental health outcomes. Empathy and gender were examined as potential moderators using interactions. Results A total of 568 EMS clinicians completed the survey. High levels of mental health difficulties were reported (34.0% anxiety, 29.2% depression, 48.6% burnout). Increased occupational stress was associated with increased anxiety (OR =1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.10), depression (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.06-1.10), and burnout (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.12). No moderation analyses were significant. Greater resilience was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and burnout. Conclusion EMS clinicians, much like other first responders, experience considerable occupational stress, of which is associated with mental health difficulties and burnout. Findings underscore the need for intervention programs aimed at reducing the impact of occupational stress and the promotion of resilience. Continuing to understand the full scope of EMS mental health, including the role of resilience, is imperative, particularly in light of future public emergencies.

Teacher Stress and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Differences by Teaching Modality

This study examines stress, mental health, and well-being in K-12 teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic Fall 2020 school restart and assesses differences in mental health and well-being by mode of instruction: online, in-person, or a hybrid. K-12 teachers (n = 5856) across three states completed an online survey with questions pertaining to teacher’s experiences surrounding COVID during the Fall 2020 school restart. Using OLS regression, we found that teachers who engaged in dual modalities (both online and in-person and online and in the school building on a regular basis) reported greater levels of perceived stress, anxiety and depression, and lower levels of well-being than those who engaged in “single” modalities (online but not in the building and in-person). This study highlights the additional demands and challenges of balancing two modes of instruction during the pandemic and the toll it took on teacher’s mental health and well-being. Impact Statement Teachers commonly report high levels of occupational stress, and the challenges and demands that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic have only increased. Results from this study found that teachers who juggle both in-person and online instruction had significantly higher levels of stress, greater levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, and worse psychological well-being than teachers who taught only in-person or online. Examining factors that contribute to high levels of stress and mental health challenges in teachers is necessary for creating school contexts that foster both teachers’ and students’ health and well-being as well as academic performance. The development of robust support systems designed to reduce teacher stress and workload will be of paramount importance to combat teacher burnout and attrition in the face of continuing and future challenges.

Impact of Occupational Stress on Clinical Performance among Nurses: A Case Study of District Multan

There is an increasing attention to identify the occupational stressors on clinical performance among nurses due to the shortfall of paramedical staff especially nurses to an alarming extent globally. We develop a research framework to examine the impact of occupational stress on nurses’ clinical performance. A cross-sectional research design was used for data collection (n= 251). Data collection was accomplished by conducting a survey as a method. Data were analyzed through SPSS. The results indicate that occupational stress is negatively correlated with clinical performance among nurses. Work demand, work-family conflicts, occupational hazards, and occupational issues have a significant impact on nurses’ clinical performance. Moreover, interpersonal relationships and workplace violence are found to be the insignificant impact on clinical performance. Demographic variables like marital status and computer skills have significant differences in occupational stress and clinical performance. Married nurses have a higher level of occupational stress and lower level clinical performance as compared to unmarried. Nurses with computer skills have low occupational stress and higher clinical performance than those without computer skills. The results of the study have theoretical as well as practical implications, needed to be addressed on a priority basis.

Gender-specific occupational stress management in construction professionals: a comparative analysis of contractor quantity surveyors work at site

Purpose The construction industry is one of the most stressful industries. Thus, quantity surveyors (QSs) who work at sites frequently experience high levels of occupational stress. The gender of a QS also has a significant impact on his/her occupational stress. Hence, this study aims to investigate the management of occupational stress in QSs working at sites for contractors (hereinafter referred to as CQSs). Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed approach using semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey for female and male CQSs to identify, validate and rank the stressors and symptoms of occupational stress in CQSs and the strategies of managing that stress based on their significance levels. Manual content analysis and the mean weighted rating were used to analyse the data collected. Findings Heavy workload was the most significant occupational stressor of CQSs, whereas sleeping disorders were their primary symptom of occupational stress. Establishing a proper work programme was identified as the most effective stress management strategy for male and female CQSs. This study shows that many site QSs are stressed owing to their heavy workloads and work obligations and that their stress-related attributes significantly depend on their genders. Originality/value This study is significant because no previous studies have been conducted on managing occupational stress in CQSs in male and female CQSs. The study findings can be used to identify the stressors and symptoms of occupational stress in CQSs early and use appropriate management strategies to enhance the work satisfaction and productivity of CQSs suffering from occupational stress.

Latent class analysis of the sleep quality of night shift nurses and impact of shift-related factors on the occupational stress and anxiety.

The objective of this study is to explore the various latent categories within the sleep quality of night shift nurses and to investigate whether shift-related factors predispose nurses to higher levels of occupational stress and anxiety. This is a cross-sectional study. From November to December 2020, registered nurses from 18 tertiary hospitals and 16 secondary hospitals in Chongqing were selected through convenience sampling for this study. Latent class analysis was used to investigate the sleep quality of nurses working night shifts. Furthermore, univariate analysis and logistic multivariate analysis were utilized to identify the contributing factors to occupational stress and anxiety. The four latent categories of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for night shift nurses were identified as 'Low Sleep Disorder Group' (56.34%), 'Moderate Sleep Disorder Group' (37.27%), 'High Sleep Disorder Non-Reliant on Sleeping medication Group' (4.89%) and 'High Sleep Disorder Reliant on Sleeping medication Group' (1.50%). The results showed that having a night-shift frequency of 3-4 times per month, night-shift durations of 9-12 h, sleep time delay after night shift (≥2 h), total sleep time after night shift less than 4 h were shift-related factors that increased the levels of occupational stress and anxiety. The sleep quality of night shift nurses demonstrates heterogeneity and can be classified into four latent categories. Higher frequency of night shifts, extended work hours and insufficient rest time are all associated with increased levels of occupational stress and anxiety. By identifying the four latent categories of sleep quality among night shift nurses, this study sheds light on the relationship between sleep patterns and levels of occupational stress and anxiety. These findings have important implications for healthcare institutions in the management of nurse well-being and work schedules. No patient or public contribution.

Defining and Advancing a Systems Approach to Achieving Educator Wellbeing: An Integrative Review of Wellbeing in Higher Education

Educators are crucial for student success in higher education, yet they often experience high levels of occupational stress which threaten their wellbeing. Informed by a conceptual framework initially developed for addressing worker wellbeing in the healthcare sector, another sector where workers experience high levels of occupational stress, this article explores how educator wellbeing is influenced by factors within the teaching environment, institutional environment and the external environment. Through an integrative review of existing literature, this article synthesises their findings to identify work system factors, individual factors, and outcomes and consequences of educator wellbeing across these domains. The resulting framework offers practical guidance for universities to identify, assess and respond to potential threats to educator wellbeing, ultimately enhancing the prospects of student success and meeting organisational goals without compromising the wellbeing of educators.

Association between occupational stress and subclinical depression in Chinese primary healthcare workers.

Wellbeing of healthcare workers is crucial for the effective functioning of primary health systems. This study aimed to examine the association between occupational stress and subclinical depression among primary healthcare workers, and to establish the foundation for future preventive strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China. Data were collected from 832 medical staff in primary health institutions using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The participants completed the Challenge and Hindrance-Related Self-Reported Stress (C-HSS) Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between occupational stress and subclinical depression among primary healthcare workers. The prevalence of subclinical depression among primary healthcare workers was 11.66%. Participants with subclinical depression have a significant higher level of occupational stress (including challenge-stress and hindrance-stress). Regression analysis result indicated that higher level of occupational stress was significantly associated with more severe subclinical depression, and the risk of subclinical depression remained after adjusting other covariates (OR = 4.57, 95%CI, 3.14-6.63). The association between challenge-stress and subclinical depression was not statistically significant when controlling for hindrance-stress. Subgroup analysis showed that male healthcare workers who perceived higher level of challenge stress were more likely to develop subclinical depression than female healthcare workers. The level of subclinical depression among Chinese primary healthcare workers was high, and occupational stress especially hindrance stress may contribute to subclinical depression. Findings were also robust in subgroup analysis after adjusting for other covariates. These findings emphasize the importance of occupational stress psychosocial interventions to decrease the risk of developing depression among the primary healthcare workers.

Occupational stress, respect, and the need for psychological counselling in Chinese nurses: a nationwide cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore occupational stress, perceived respect, and the need for psychological counselling among nurses in China. Study designThis was a nationwide cross-sectional study. MethodsChinese nurses from 311 cities were randomly selected through a simple random sampling method. Occupational stress, perceived respect, and psychological counselling need were assessed using an online questionnaire validated by experts. The underlying associated factors were analysed using multiple logistic regression analyses. ResultsWe collected and analysed 51,406 valid online questionnaires. Family factors and low income were the most commonly cited sources of occupational stress, and 91.9% and 80.0% of nurses, respectively, perceived that individuals in society and patients did not give adequate respect. Furthermore, 75.5% and 79.7%, respectively, believed they were not respected by clinical managers and doctors. As a result, 64.7% nurses believed they had a moderate or high need for psychological counselling. However, 80.7% indicated that receiving adequate respect could decrease the need for stress-related psychological counselling. Indeed, multiple logistic regression analyses showed that lower respect perceived by nurses was associated with higher need for psychological counselling, particularly regarding criticism that nurses perceived from nursing managers (a little: odds ratio [OR], 1.597; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.176–2.170; P = 0.003; moderately: OR, 1.433; 95% CI, 1.180–1.741; P < 0.001) and the difficulty of receiving respect from patients and their families (a little: OR, 1.389; 95% CI, 1.044–1.850; P = 0.024). ConclusionsNurses in China perceive high levels of occupational stress and low levels of respect and often seek psychological counselling.

The effect of personality on occupational stress among employees in Universiti Teknologi MARA Perlis

The education sector has significant well-being issues, with high levels of occupational stress and burnout. Previous research has focused on environmental factors in isolation, overlooking the influence of personality. Universiti Teknologi Mara Perlis (UiTM Perlis) (n=100) completed an online survey composed of three questionnaires; the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Job Stress Survey. Multiple regression analysis revealed that personality is a better predictor of occupational stress than environment (p&lt;.001). Neuroticism is the trait that significantly predicts occupational stress (p&lt;.001), and the components of neuroticism that contribute the most to stress are depression (p=.002) and anger hostility (p=.005). Overall findings suggest that newly employees are at greater risk of suffering from high levels of occupational stress than those well established in the profession, and with higher levels of depression and anger hostility are likely to experience greater levels of occupational stress. Implications highlight the need for greater awareness of potentially susceptible personality traits in the employee’s admissions process. This would allow for the identification of those at risk and the implementation of interventions.

Stress Management in Healthcare Organizations: The Nigerian Context.

Occupational psychosocial stress can increase the risk of several cardiometabolic diseases. Healthcare workers worldwide experience exceptionally high levels of occupational stress, leading to serious individual, organizational, and societal problems. This narrative review seeks to provide information about the overall consequences of having over-stressed healthcare workers and ascertain how it eventually holds back the advancement of healthcare. In addition, we present a review of the concept, study, and theories related to stress management in order to deeply understand this issue, providing a theoretical perspective of stress management and the subtle concepts of stress, stress management, healthcare structure, and organization in Nigeria. The current literature has shown that Nigerian healthcare workers are more stressed due to long working hours, caregiving responsibilities, and psychological contact with patients. Healthcare workers are more likely to experience stress and burnout than other professions. The level of stress in the healthcare sector has garnered a lot of attention in this regard because of the negative impact of stress on both staff and patients. However, health policies and better working conditions need to be adopted. Collaborative efforts from policymakers, healthcare institutions, and other stakeholders are necessary to prioritize the well-being and productivity of healthcare professionals in the journey toward a more robust and equitable healthcare system.

An Overview of The Level of Occupational Stress of Anesthesiologists In The Surgical Room of The Hospital In The Banyumas District Area

Background: Every profession and employee in both developed and developing countries is affected by occupational stress, which is a global problem. Due to the great burden and responsibility of safeguarding human lives, the anesthesia care profession is particularly vulnerable to stress. And high levels of occupational stress can cause health problems, such as mental and behavioral disorders such as fatigue, anxiety, and depression, as well as other physical disorders such as cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders that affect service functions. The role of expert anesthesiologist has a function in pre, intra, post anesthesia care services and emergency management. Objective: To identify the characteristics of anesthesiologist's work stress level based on age, gender, working period, working hours and latest education in the surgical room. Methods: This research is descriptive quantitative with a cross sectional approach. The study population was 39 respondents, the focus of observation in this study was a description of the stress level of anesthesia administrators in the surgical room of the Banyumas Regency Hospital. Results: This study shows the level of stress with mild stress category with a total of 19 respondents with a percentage (48.7%) and moderate work stress as many as 4 respondents with a percentage (10.3%). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the presence of mild and moderate work stress in surgical room anesthesiologists at the Banyumas Regency Regional Hospital.

Occupational stress and coping strategies of library and information science professionals in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Occupational stress is a physical and psychological condition that can have negative effects. Librarians undergo significant levels of occupational stress. The study assessed levels of occupational stress and different coping strategies in response to it. 37.7 % of library and information science professionals in Jammu and Kashmir have low occupational stress, 32.6 % moderate, and 29.7 % a high level of occupational stress. It was confirmed that these professionals utilize both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies to manage stress. However, the prevalence of emotion-focused coping is more noticeable among them. Role overload, low status, interpersonal problems, lack of respect, and other factors were identified as elements causing occupational stress. Occupational stress and coping strategies displayed a weak yet positive relationship.

Self-Perceived Work Stress between Emergency Department Nurses and General Wards Nurses

Background: Nursing profession is a very stressful profession and mounting evidence indicates that it may be on the rise in death and dying, conflict with physicians,  inadequate emotional preparation, problems relating to peers, problems relating to supervisors, workload,  uncertainty concerning treatments, 8) patients and families and, discrimination especially among nurses who work in emergency department nursing. The current study aimed to assess self-perceived work stress between emergency department nurses' (ED) and general wards nurses (GW). Method: The study was conducted by selecting a non-probability (purposive) sample.  Ninety six   nurses included in the current study; (48) work in emergency department and (48) in general ward. By interviewing each nurse, we prepared a draft of 57 items within nine domain (Expanded Nursing Stress Scale) questionnaire. Results: The assessment of stress was moderate for both ED nurses and GW nurses with mean of scores (2.00 and 2.47) respectively. The mean difference was high statistically significant (p-value &lt;0.0001). Conclusion: ED nurses reported a high level of occupational stress compared to GW nurses.

Occupational Stress Among Middle-Aged Professionals in India

Background Professional world nowadays is very competitive, and surviving the cutthroat competition while sustaining work-related stress and pressure is an important task for employees. Professionals are required to meet daily and monthly objectives and may encounter work-related stressors. Purpose The study aims to explore occupational stress among middle-aged professionals in the age range of 45–60 years from the marketing, banking, and teaching sectors. Methods A total sample of 180 consented middle-aged professionals in the age range of 45–60 years from the banking, teaching, and marketing sectors were included in the study using a purposive and snowball sampling technique. Professionals having serious medical or psychiatric conditions and undergoing treatment for the same were excluded. The Occupational Stress Index was administered to assess different types of occupational stressors. The statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 software. A descriptive analysis and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to get meaningful results. Results Results revealed that 40% of the middle-aged professionals reported experiencing minimal levels of occupational stress, followed by 32.2% experiencing moderate levels and 27.8% experiencing high levels of occupational stress. Additionally, it was found that a significantly higher percentage (91.6%) of banking professionals reported low levels of occupational stress compared to their counterparts. Eighty percent of marketing professionals reported experiencing high levels of occupational stress, whereas a majority (73.3%) of teaching professionals reported moderate levels of occupational stress. Conclusion Occupational stress with different severity levels is found to be common among middle-aged professionals, which is a risk factor to develop mental health problems and affects well-being. Large-scale primary and secondary interventions are required to manage stress and facilitate professional growth and development in India.

Факторы профессионального стресса у медицинского персонала в условиях COVID-19

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The work is aimed at studying the phenomenon of occupational stress in physicians under the conditions of COVID-19. Currently, it is becoming increasingly important to study the factors of occupational stress in physicians. The article presents an analysis of the socio-demographic, organizational and personal factors of professional stress in physicians under the conditions of COVID-19. The analysis of foreign studies shows the significance of the factor of gender, nurse status and age, as well as the influence of working conditions, professional identity and personal variables on the level of experience of professional stress by doctors in the context of COVID-19. The data obtained in the studies makes it possible to understand the role of socio-demographic, organizational and personal factors, which is an important condition for organizing preventive and intervention measures. Female medical staff members, mainly in the status of nurses and under 50 years old who are working on the front line with infected patients are commonly subjected to occupational stress. Unhealthy perfectionism, pathological altruism, an exaggerated sense of responsibility becomes personal factors of professional stress in this category of physician. A low sense of professional identity is correlated with a high level of occupational stress, as well as a strong sense of occupational identity correlates with the experience of a situation of uncertainty&lt;/p&gt;

Relationships between common mental disorders, Burnout, and poor sleep quality in healthcare professionals working on the frontline of COVID-19 combat

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic directly impacted the mental health of frontline health care workers fighting COVID-19. This study aims to investigate whether the working conditions of these professionals acted as predictors of common mental disorders, poor sleep quality, and burnout. Cross-sectional study conducted with 133 health professionals from three COVID-19 treatment units in the Agreste of Pernambuco-Brazil. The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and poor sleep quality were 26.3%, 36.8%, 28.6%, and 80%, respectively. The prevalence of high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization was 47.4% and 57.1%, respectively. Weekly workload of more than 40 hours and high level of occupational stress were significant predictors of burnout and sleep disorders. The symptoms of mental illness among health professionals suffer a cumulative effect, and it is necessary to establish measures for the prevention of health problems among these workers.

Investigating the relationship between demographic characteristics, job stress and work ability in nurses: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Introduction: Nurses play a critical role in the health of society. Previous studies have reported a high level of occupational stress in the nursing community. Therefore, the present study investigates the relationship between demographic characteristics and job stress on nurses' workability. &#x0D; Materials and Methods: 408 nurses participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, nurses' job stress scale (NSS), and work ability index (WAI). SPSS version 24 statistical software and independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. The significance level in the present study was considered less than 0.05. &#x0D; Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age of the nurses was 33.6 ± 5.1 years. 78.2% of the participants (319 nurses) were women, and the rest were men. 68.7% of female nurses (280 people) were married. Nurses had high job stress and poor workability. A significant negative relationship was observed between job stress and nurses' workability (P&lt;0.001). Age and work experience had a negative significant relationship with occupational stress and a positive significant relationship with workability. Also, nurses with higher education had lower job stress and higher workability. &#x0D; Conclusion: Considering the negative impact of occupational stress on the nurses' workability, it is suggested that the relevant managers identify and eliminate the factors that cause occupational stress to maintain health, improve the ability to work, and increase the productivity of nurses, to reduce the amount of occupational stress and improve the workability of nurses.