Work Stress and Psychological Well-being among the Nursing Profession in Singapore

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the work stress of nursing and its relationship with the psychological well-being of the nurses. Design: A survey research method was adopted in which a questionnaire was designed for data collection. Setting: The study was conducted in the hospital setting. Subjects; Nurses (N=1,043) of different grades participated in this study on an anonymous and voluntary basis. Measures: A work stress measure (ie, the Nursing Stress Inventory) and GHQ-12 were incorporated in a questionnaire which also contained items on subject's background information. Results: The eight areas of work stress identified were found to be negatively related to psychological well-being of the nurses, with stronger effects on anxiety and depression than sense of adequacy. Conclusion: Certain work Stressors were more detrimental than the others. They may also exert differential effects on the affective and cognitive stress reactions.