The effect of job strain on psychological morbidity and quality of life in military hospital nurses in Taiwan: a follow-up study

Reciprocal relationship between psychosocial work stress and quality of life: the role of gender and education from the longitudinal study of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the reciprocal relationship between psychosocial work stress and quality of life (QoL) and to examine whether the relationship can be moderated by gender or education.

DESIGN

Longitudinal, population-based study.

SETTING

The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

PARTICIPANTS

The study population was derived from the SHARE, and there were 2006 participants with good QoL at baseline, 1109 with high job control and 1072 with high job reward, respectively, who were followed up for 2 years to detect incidence of poor QoL, low job control and low job reward.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Logistic regression models were employed to explore the reciprocal relationship between psychological work stress and QoL. Stratification analyses by gender and education were performed.

RESULTS

Participants with low reward (OR=1.53, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.88) and low control (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.71) at baseline were at higher risk of poor QoL over the 2-year follow-up. The combination of low reward and low control further increased the risk (OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.46 to 2.48). Stratified analyses revealed that these associations were more pronounced among those who had high levels of education. Further, individuals with poor QoL were at significantly higher risk of having low reward (OR=2.14, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.96) but not low control (OR=1.33, 95% CI0.98 to 1.79) at the 2-year follow-up, especially among those who had medium levels of education. No gender differences were found.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a reciprocal relationship between psychological work stress and poor QoL. Education may play an important role in the relationship.

Quality of Life and Anxiety in Military Personnel

The quality of life of military personnel represents their self-evaluation of the quality of their own mental and physical health, social relations, and the environment in which they live and work. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between quality of life and anxiety levels in military personnel of the Serbian Armed Forces.

The cross-sectional study included a total of 311 randomly selected professional military personnel (officers, non-commissioned officers and professional soldiers) between 23 and 53 years of age (mean, 35.3±7 years) without current mental health problems. For the purpose of this study, we used the World Health Organization Abbreviated Instrument for Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The statistical analysis included parametric and non-parametric descriptive statistics.

Professional military personnel showed high satisfaction with their quality of life in the categories of social relations (82.52), psychological health (82.10) and physical health (81.68), while the satisfaction scores in the category environment category were the lowest (62.77). The average value for the total BAI score was 4.83±5.66. Quality of life decreased, while anxiety increased, with increasing age of the military personnel. Higher BREF score values were associated with lower scores on the BAI questionnaires in all subscales (p<0.001).

Military personnel of the Serbian Armed Forces showed a high degree of satisfaction with their own quality of life. Learning techniques to easily overcome everyday stress would reducedreduce anxiety and improve the quality of life in military personnel of the Serbian Armed Forces.

Coping strategies as moderating factors to compassion fatigue among critical care nurses

PURPOSE

This study measured levels of compassion fatigue, burnout and satisfaction among critical care and emergency nurses. It investigated coping strategies as moderating factors and as predictors to levels of compassion fatigue.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, this study was conducted on 228 (84.4%) out of 270 from four Jordanian hospitals. Nurses worked in different types of critical care units and emergency departments. Nurses completed a demographic questionnaire on the professional quality of life and coping strategies indicator scales.

RESULTS

Nurses had low to average compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary stress syndrome. Problem-solving and avoidance ranged between very low and average levels. Nurses reported having very low to average levels on seeking social support scale. Female nurses had better compassion satisfaction compared with their male colleagues, and the type of unit had a significant impact on the secondary stress syndrome, problem-solving, and seeking social support. Nurses from the surgical cardiovascular ICU scored the highest mean scores on the secondary stress syndrome. Better coping strategies were associated with higher compassion satisfaction and lower levels of secondary stress syndrome. Problem-solving significantly predicted compassion satisfaction, avoidance significantly predicted secondary traumatic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Coping strategies are moderating factors that could improve compassion satisfaction among critical care nurses. Managers could use findings to create healthier and supportive work environments. We recommend focusing on activities that promote better coping strategies, including improving the social support system. We also recommend replicating this study using a qualitative approach to identify further causes of compassion fatigue.

Health, workforce characteristics, quality of life and intention to leave: The 'Fit for the Future' survey of Australian nurses and midwives

AIM

To examine the quality of life of nurses and midwives in New South Wales, Australia and compare values with those of the Australian general population; to determine the influence of workforce, health and work life characteristics on quality of life and its effect on workforce intention to leave.

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined nurses' and midwives' quality of life and little is known of its effects on workforce longevity.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2014-2015.

METHOD

The "Fit for the Future" electronic survey, delivered to nurses and midwives, examined demographic, work and health-related factors, which were compared with Australian general population normative values for physical and mental components of quality of life (the Short Form-12). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models assessed associations with workforce intention to leave.

RESULT

Physical and mental component scores, calculated for 4,592 nurses and midwives, revealed significantly higher physical but lower mental component scores than the general population. Physical component scores decreased with increasing age; higher scores were seen in nurses with better health indices and behaviours. Mental well-being scores increased with increasing age; in nurses who reported job satisfaction, no work injury, sleep problems or frequent pain and non-smokers. The odds of intention to leave decreased with increasing mental well-being.

CONCLUSION

Managers and decision-makers should heed study recommendations to implement health promotion strategies for nurses and midwives, aiming to improve mental health, specifically to promote workforce retention.

Potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress in Japanese novice nurses - a pilot study

Background

Occupational stress is a known factor behind employee resignations; thus, early identification of individuals prone to such stress is important. Accordingly, in this pilot study we evaluated potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress in Japanese novice nurses.

Methods

Forty-two female novice nurses at Kagoshima University Hospital were recruited for the study population. Each underwent physical health and urinary examinations, and completed a lifestyle questionnaire at the time of job entry. Each also completed a Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), related to mental health status, at job entry and 5 months post-entry. Psychological stress, somatic symptoms, and combined BJSQ scores were determined for each time point.

Results

All three stress condition scores had significantly decreased at 5 months post-entry, suggesting occupational stress. Systolic blood pressure (r = −0.324, p < 0.05) and urinary sodium (r = −0.313, p < 0.05) were significantly negatively correlated with combined BJSQ score at 5 months post-entry. Post-entry stress condition scores were significantly low in subjects reporting substantial 1-year body weight change (≤ ± 3 kg) and short times between dinner and bedtimes (≤2 h), though baseline stress condition scores were not. Urinary sodium concentration, 1-year body weight change, and pre-sleep evening meals were then targeted for multivariate analysis, and confirmed as independent explanatory variables for post-entry stress condition scores.

Conclusions

One-year body weight change, times between dinner and bedtimes, and urinary sodium concentration are promising potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress, and should be further investigated in future research.

Trial registration

ISRCTN ISRCTN17516023. Retrospectively registered 7 December 2016.

Cultural leisure activities, recovery and work engagement among hospital employees

This study explored the relationship between cultural leisure activities, recovery experiences and two outcomes among hospital workers. The differences in recovery experiences (detachment, relaxation, mastery and control) and outcomes (work engagement and subjective recovery state) among hospital personnel (N=769) were analysed by the type (receptive or creative) and frequency of cultural activities. The cross-sectional data were collected by a digital questionnaire. Employees who reported both receptive and creative cultural leisure activities on a weekly basis had the highest relaxation, mastery and control experiences during off-job time. In addition, those with weekly creative activities had beneficial mastery experiences. There were no differences in recovery outcomes after adjustment for age, except in work engagement. Cultural leisure activities, and creative activities in particular, play an important role in certain aspects of recovery.

Stress, Sleep and Depressive Symptoms in Active Duty Military Personnel

BACKGROUND

The military is a unique occupational group and, because of this, military personnel face different kinds of stress than civilian populations. Sleep problems are an example. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep problems, depression level and coping strategies among military personnel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, military personnel completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Jalowiec Coping Scale.

RESULTS

An evaluation of the test scores showed that officers had better sleep quality and fewer depressive symptoms than enlisted personnel. Military personnel with higher educational levels and less physical illness also had fewer depressive symptoms. Officers and noncommissioned officers preferred problem-focused strategies. Those with higher Beck Depression Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores and those who drank alcohol frequently preferred affective-focused strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that sleep quality, physical illness and alcohol consumption were associated with the mental health of military personnel. Treating these factors may improve the mental health of military personnel and enhance effective coping strategies.