Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the General Work Stress Scale

Psychometric evaluation of the Turkish version of the Work-Related Stress Scale: A study among search and rescue workers responding to the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes

This study evaluates the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Work-Related Stress Scale (WRSS) among search and rescue workers who responded to the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Data were collected from 275 workers between January and April 2024 using the Personal Information Form and the Turkish version of the WRSS. Language, content, and construct validity were assessed, and reliability was determined using item-total correlation, Cronbach's alpha, split-half, and test-retest methods. The scale demonstrated strong content validity with a CVI range of 0.9-1.0 and a mean CVI of 0.98. Exploratory factor analysis yielded factor loadings from 0.469 to 0.932, resulting in four factors that explained 75.3% of the variance. The reliability coefficients for the sub-dimensions ranged from 0.833 to 0.900, with an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.913. These results indicate that the Turkish WRSS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing stress among search and rescue workers.

The Effect of 24 h Shift Work on the Nutritional Status of Healthcare Workers: An Observational Follow-Up Study from Türkiye

This study aimed to determine changes in energy and nutrient intakes over three consecutive days, including the day of the shift, and the days before and after the shift, in healthcare workers working in a 24 h shift system. This study is an observational follow-up study conducted with a total of 500 volunteer healthcare professionals. Food consumption records were taken over 3 consecutive days: pre-shift (off day), shift day (24 h shift), and post-shift (off day). Mean daily intakes of energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, saturated fat, caffeine, vitamins B1, B2, niacin, B6, folate, and B12, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc are listed from highest to lowest as shift day > pre-shift > post-shift (p < 0.05 for all pairwise comparisons). While fiber, vitamin C, and calcium intakes were similar on the shift day and pre-shift day, they were significantly lower on the post-shift day (p < 0.05). The lowest dietary reference intake percentages on the post-shift day were calcium, fiber, and folate, respectively. In the present study, significant differences were detected in the energy, micronutrient-intake, and macronutrient-intake levels between the pre-shift day, shift day, and post-shift day of healthcare workers. Awareness should be increased regarding the decreased nutrient intake seen especially on the first day after a 24 h shift, and appropriate precautions should be taken to increase calcium, fiber, and folate intake levels.

The relationship between organizational dehumanization and work engagement: the mediating effect of nurses' work stress

BACKGROUND

Organizational dehumanization has detrimental consequences for nurses' wellbeing and leads to a stressful work environment. Moreover, it is very destructive to work engagement.

AIM

To examine the mediating role of nurses' work stress between organizational dehumanization and work engagement.

METHOD

A cross-sectional research design was conducted with 245 staff nurses over a one-month period. The researchers used structured equation modeling.

RESULTS

Work engagement and organizational dehumanization levels were both moderate. In addition, the degree of job stress among the nurses was moderate, too. The results of the structural equation modeling showed that the association between organizational dehumanization and job engagement is partially mediated by work stress.

CONCLUSIONS

For staff nurses to exhibit high levels of caring behaviors, this study emphasized the need to establish a work environment that employs tactics to improve workplace engagement and happiness. In addition to changing the organizational culture of nurses to eradicate organizational dehumanization and pressures related to the job.

Correlates of Smoking, Work Stress, and Mindful Awareness among Private Hospital Workers in Istanbul

Background: The recent increase in workload and stress experienced by healthcare workers (HCW) is a significant global concern. Mindfulness enables one to be aware of emotions, thoughts, and present moment experiences. Objectives: The primary objective of this research is to investigate the correlates between smoking, occupational stress, and mindful awareness levels, among HCWs within the private healthcare sector. This study was conducted at a tertiary-level university-affiliated hospital in Istanbul between January - February 2023. 208 HCW participated, yielding a response rate of 20%. The participants were requested to complete a 61-item questionnaire consisting of demographics, General Work Stress Scale(GWS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Test to Assess the Psychological Dependence on Smoking (TAPDS). Results: Smokers had significantly higher levels of mean GWS scores than nonsmokers. The mean MAAS scores of smokers were the lowest in the group with the highest scores of psychological dependence; it was highest in the group with the lowest scores. A negative correlation was found between general work stress and mindful awareness levels and between psychological dependence on smoking and mindfulness levels. HCWs aged 45 and older had significantly lower general stress than others. Conclusion: This study showed that the general work stress levels of smoker HCWs were higher than those of nonsmokers. Mindful awareness level was the lowest in the group, with the highest scores in psychological dependence on smoking. There was a negative correlation between psychological dependence on smoking and both work stress and mindful awareness levels. This study demonstrated that high work stress and low mindful awareness levels are not only related to each other but also to high psychological dependence on smoking.

General work stress and suicide cognitions in health-care workers: mediating effect of hopelessness and job satisfaction

Individuals with a satisfactory level of job satisfaction are much less likely to feel hopeless about their future and are more likely to perform efficiently in the workplace. General work stress (i.e., the work-related stress subjectively experienced) is a significant predictor of suicide cognitions. Furthermore, it has been posited that satisfaction and hope are fundamental to life from an existential perspective. We, therefore, tested a hypothetical model of general work stress, suicide cognitions, hopelessness, and job satisfaction. The data were collected from 416 health-care workers through a convenience sampling method. The mediation analysis results revealed significant negative and positive relationships among general work stress, suicide conceptions, hopelessness, and job satisfaction. The findings indicate that hopelessness and job satisfaction have a parallel mediating effect in the relationship between general work stress and suicide cognitions. The result of the study is of great importance, which suggests that interventions to alleviate hopelessness and work stress and to boost the job satisfaction of medical staff may help prevent suicide cognitions.

The psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the stressor scale for emergency nurses

BACKGROUND

Emergency nurses are experienced specific stress factors. To evaluate stressors of emergency nurses effectively is useful to improve quality of nursing care. This study aimed to translate the stressor scale for emergency nurses into Chinese (C-SSEN) and carry out the reliability and validity test among Chinese emergency nurses.

METHODS

A total of 358 emergency nurses from four hospitals in Tianjin, Henan, and Shandong province of China are recruited through a convenience sampling. The C-SSEN was translated into Chinese applying a classic 'forward-backward' translation method. Reliability (internal consistency, test-retest reliability) and validity (content validity, construct validity) were assessed.

RESULTS

The final version of C-SSEN was rated by the expert panel, indicating good content validity (I-CVI ≥ 0.83, S-CVI = 0.96). The scale had satisfactory content validity, internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.958), and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.824).

CONCLUSION

The C-SSEN is a useful and reliable scale to evaluate stressors among emergency nurses.

Mediating effect of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and nurses' organizational and professional turnover intentions

Nursing is one of the most stressful and high-risk professions. It is important to identify the psychological problems experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the relationship between these problems to devise measures that can properly address them. This study examined mediating effect of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and nurses' organizational and professional turnover intentions. Using a cross-sectional research design, this study was conducted on 486 nurses working in seven hospitals in Turkey. The mean age of the participants was 35.24 ± 6.81 and 59.9 % of them were women. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the General Work Stress Scale, and the Turnover Intention Scale were used to collect data. A mediation model showed that fear of COVID-19 was positively associated with work stress and organizational and professional turnover intentions. The model also revealed that work stress was positively associated with organizational and professional turnover intentions. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that fear of COVID-19 did not only have a direct effect on organizational and professional turnover intentions but also had an indirect effect on it via increased work stress. Findings improve our understanding of the role of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and organizational and professional turnover intentions. The findings are fruitful for tailoring and implementing intervention programs to reduce the adverse psychological impacts of COVID-19 on nurses.

Investigation of Fear of COVID-19, Work Stress and Affecting Factors in Prehospital Emergency Healthcare Workers

Background: Since healthcare workers work in the same environment with infected patients, they have a higher risk in terms of COVID-19 transmission compared to other parts of society, and accordingly, they experience more stress. Purpose: The aim of this study to investigate the fear of COVID-19, work stress, and affecting factors in prehospital healthcare workers. Methods: The research has a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The research was completed with a total of 399 individuals. Data were collected online using an introductory information form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the General Work Stress Scale. Results: The level of fear of COVID-19 was higher in women compared to men (B=-1.451, p=0.012), in married individuals compared to singles (B=-1.667, p=0.011), in those with low income compared to those with moderate or high income (B=-2.259, p

The effect of social support on work stress in health workers during the pandemic: The mediation role of resilience

Stressful experiences commonly increase among health workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From this perspective, this study primarily aimed to examine the mediating role of resilience in the effect of perceived social support on work stress among health workers. The sample of the study consisted of 402 health workers. In the research, the "General Work Stress Scale," "Brief Resiliency Scale," and "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support" were used. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between work stress and social support (r = -0.223, p = 0.00) and resilience (r = -0.432, p = 0.00), and a statistically significant positive correlation between social support and resilience (r = 0.226, p = 0.00). Resilience mediates the relationship between perception of social support and work stress. When planning effective intervention strategies, it will be critical to reduce the risk of adverse mental health outcomes in health workers, who are fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, by increasing social support and resilience and reducing work stress.