ABSTRACT
Introduction: According to surveys, there is an important evidence that high levels of occupational stress is strongly associated with low self – assessed mental health and wellbeing.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the mental well-being of nursing staff in our country and to explore its relationship with work-related stress.
Material – method: Our research constituted 328 registered nurses and nurse assistants from fifteen hospitals situated inside the capital and the province areas of Greece. Data was collected by using an anonymous, self- completing questionnaire, that was specially modified from a) Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS) b) RAND 36-item Health Survey (Version 1.0). The first part of questionnaire was contained questions on socio- demographic and job characteristics. The second part included the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale by Susan E. French, Rhonda Lenton, Vivienne Walters and John Eyles. The level of mental well-being was evaluated in third part using the item «emotional well-being» of RAND 36-item Health Survey (Version 1.0).
Results: Using the statistical test of Pearson, emerged a negative linear relationship between work stress and mental well-being (r = -0,347, p <0,001). The same relationship has emerged between mental health, and the factors of work-related stress scale ENSS, as shown by the following data. “Workload» (r =- 0,340 **, p <0,001), «Patients and their families» (r =- 0,311 **, p <0,001), «Uncertainty treatment», (r =- 0,293 **, p <0,001), «Discrimination at Work», (r =- 0,123 *, p = 0,028), «Conflict with the doctors», (r =- 0,286 **, p <0,001), «Inadequate preparation to meet the emotional needs of patients and their families» (r=-0,246**, p<0,001), «Problems with colleagues», (r=-0,265**, p<0,001), «Death and dying (r =- 0,196 **, p <0,001),« Problems with the heads », (r = -0,357 **, p <0,001), (* Correlation is significant at the 0.05 ( 2 – tailed), ** Correlation is significant at the level of 0,01 (2 – tailed))
Conclusions: The conclusion of this research is that work-related stress can be considered a prognostic factor for impaired mental health nursing staff. To enable essential work stress management at the hospitals, required infrastructure, trained staff in the Health and Safety, and targeted prevention policy.
Keywords: Work-related Stress, Mental Health and well-being, Nurses.
