Effects of work-family conflict and anxiety in the relationship between work-related stress and job burnout in Chinese female nurses: A chained mediation modeling analysis

Network analysis of interpersonal conflict, emotional exhaustion and psychological distress among mental health nurses in the workplace: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Mental health nurses (MHNs) frequently engage in intense interpersonal interactions and encounter various forms of conflict with patients, colleagues, and their families. These conflicts can disrupt workplace harmony and significantly affect nurses' mental wellbeing. This study aims to analyze how workplace interpersonal conflicts affect nurses' emotional exhaustion and psychological distress through structural network analysis.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational survey was conducted using the Customer Interpersonal Injustice Scale, Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale, Bi-directional Work-Family Conflict Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory (emotional exhaustion sub-scale), and the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The survey was completed by 858 MHNs and 643 non-MHNs across six comprehensive hospitals and nine psychiatric hospitals from western China.

Results

5.1% of all participants reported severe distress. Emotional exhaustion and psychological distress were associated with lower subjective social status, more severe conflicts with patients and supervisors, and bidirectional work-family conflict. Key risk factors for severe psychological distress included being an MHN, patient mistreatment, and bidirectional work-family conflict, while higher subjective social status was a protective factor. Network analysis showed no significant differences in conflict structures between MHNs and non-MHNs. Within the network, the work-to-family conflict most significantly impacted emotional exhaustion, while emotional exhaustion had the greatest influence on psychological distress.

Conclusion

This study revealed that MHNs experienced a higher rate of severe psychological distress than non-MHNs, with emotional exhaustion and psychological distress closely associated with subjective social status and interpersonal conflict. Given that work-to-family conflict and emotional exhaustion were key nodes in the network, targeted interventions are urgently needed to alleviate psychological distress.

Self-efficacy as a psychological resource in the management of stress suffered by ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective study on emotional exhaustion

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses have experienced a high degree of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the literature on the consequences on emotional symptomatology is abundant, studies on the protective psychosocial variables that have contributed to buffering these consequences are scarcer.

AIM

This study analyses the role of self-efficacy as a protective personality trait in ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a moderated mediation model that begins with the stress and anxiety experienced at the onset of the pandemic and concludes with the emotional exhaustion experienced 6 months later.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal study with two data collection periods during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) from 5 May to 21 June 2020 and (2) a follow-up 6 months after the state of alarm finalized (January-April 2021). These were both very stressful periods for ICU staff because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted with 129 ICU nurses (a non-probabilistic convenience sample in the Spanish health care system). Socio-demographic, occupational and psychosocial variables (i.e. stress, anxiety, self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion) were assessed. Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlations, covariate analyses (i.e. Student's t-test, one-factor ANOVA) and moderated mediation analyses were carried out (SPSS PROCESS macro, model 7). STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guidelines were followed.

RESULTS

It shows that the higher the self-efficacy score, the lower the effect of stress on anxiety (p < .001); likewise, the moderating role of self-efficacy was equally valid for the whole final model (F = 8.790, p < .001), showing self-efficacy to be a good buffer for emotional exhaustion derived from the stress suffered in the ICU.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-efficacy (i.e. the belief of being able to do certain tasks successfully) is shown to be a highly relevant trait to enhance among ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to manage work stress effectively and thus buffering the development of anxiety in the short term and emotional exhaustion in the long term.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Our results point to the need to assess and take action on self-efficacy in ICU nurses in highly stressful situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. As a psychological variable, self-efficacy refers to beliefs and therefore has to be trained by evidence-based psychological techniques, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. In addition, previous literature has pointed out that previous experience or specific training is an influential (although not a determining) factor in self-efficacy, so specialization for ICU nurses could also be considered.

Attitude towards aging and anxiety in the relationship between social alienation and depression in Chinese rural empty-nest older adults: a chained mediation modeling analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression among rural empty-nest older adults has emerged as a significant global and Chinese concern in recent years. Studies have identified associations between depression in rural empty-nest older adults and factors such as social alienation, attitudes towards aging, and mental health. However, the intricate mechanisms underlying these relationships remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the intricate connections between social alienation and depression among Chinese rural empty-nest older adults, aiming to shed light on the underlying mechanisms contributing to depression in this demographic.

METHODS

The study data were gathered from a sample of rural empty-nest older adults (N = 1025) residing in the cities of Chaoyang, Liaoning Province, China. Depression served as the primary outcome variable, with social alienation as the predictor variable. Attitude towards aging and anxiety symptoms were examined as potential mediators in the relationship between social alienation and depression. Mediation and chained mediation modeling analyses were conducted to analyze the data and explore the proposed relationships.

RESULTS

(1) Social alienation positively predicted attitude towards aging (β = 0.109, P < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.076, P < 0.001), and depression (β = 0.021, P < 0.001). Attitude towards aging positively predicted anxiety symptoms (β = 0.390, P < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.006, P < 0.001). Anxiety symptoms also positively predicted depression (β = 1.207, P < 0.001). (2) Social alienation mainly affects depression through three indirect effects: (1) Social alienation → attitude towards aging → depression; (2) Social alienation → anxiety symptoms → depression; (3) Social alienation → attitude towards aging → anxiety symptoms → depression.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that social alienation impacts depression among Chinese rural empty-nest older adults through the pathways of attitude towards aging and anxiety symptoms. Consequently, efforts aimed at preventing depression rooted in social alienation among this demographic should address both attitudes towards aging and mental health concerns.

The glass ceiling perception and female teacher burnout: the mediating role of work-family conflict

Introduction

This paper aims to investigate the mediating role of work-family conflict in the relationship between the perception of the glass ceiling and female teacher burnout. The glass ceiling can create significant career barriers for women, potentially increasing work-family conflict and, in turn, leading to higher levels of burnout. Exploring these dynamics can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms contributing to female teachers' well-being and inform strategies to mitigate burnout in educational settings.

Methods

The sample population comprises 200 female teachers working in higher educational institutions in China where data has been collected via a survey questionnaire, followed by SPSS and Smart PLS to analyse and test the hypotheses.

Results

Results indicate that there is a positive relationship between the perception of glass ceiling, work-family conflict and female teacher burnout, and work-family conflict mediates the relationship between the perception of glass ceiling and female teacher burnout in higher educational institutions in China.

Discussion

These findings highlight how work-family conflict caused by the glass ceiling perception negatively impacts burnout among female faculty members in higher educational institutions, which are relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, and 5 emphasizing women's well-being, high-quality education, and gender equality, it offers actionable suggestions for policymakers to reduce the incidence of female teacher burnout.

Prevalence and risk factors for intimate partner violence among ICU nurses

AIM

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

METHODS

ICU nurses from a tertiary hospital in Yunnan, China, were recruited for this study. Participants completed a survey assessing demographics, experiences of IPV, dyadic coping, anxiety, depression, and social relationships. In line with the STROBE guidelines, descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and regression analysis was employed to explore influencing factors. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0, and missing data were addressed with appropriate methods. Results are reported with 95% confidence intervals and p-values.

RESULTS

Of the 232 ICU nurses approached, 191 completed the survey, with 58.1% reporting experiences of IPV. The most common types of IPV reported were negotiation (67.6%), psychological aggression (61.3%), physical assault (41.4%), injury (18.9%), and sexual coercion (8.1%). Significant factors associated with IPV included being an only child, partner's age, and partner's occupation (P < 0.05). Differences in social support and anxiety levels were also significantly associated with IPV (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights a high prevalence of IPV among ICU nurses, with negotiation, psychological aggression, and physical assault being the most common forms. Key factors such as being an only child, partner characteristics, and social support were found to significantly influence IPV experiences. These findings emphasize the need for targeted support and interventions to address IPV within this healthcare group. Further research is necessary to explore effective prevention strategies and the role of personal and social factors in IPV.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Exploring the impact of interpersonal sensitivity on anxiety symptoms: the mediating role of psychological capital and social support among nursing students

BACKGROUND

As the demand for healthcare in society continues to rise, nursing students are likely to face various challenges related to their profession in the future. Anxiety symptoms have increasingly become a significant factor affecting their mental health. Given that nursing students are crucial to building the future nursing workforce, it is essential to prioritize their mental well-being. This study aims to explore the relationships between anxiety symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, psychological capital, and perceived social support among nursing undergraduates.

METHODS

In April 2022, 1,885 nursing undergraduates at a university in eastern China participated in a survey using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), the interpersonal sensitivity subscale of the SCL-90, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0 and PROCESS v3.4 macro to assess the impact of interpersonal sensitivity on anxiety and the mediating roles of social support and psychological capital.

RESULTS

Anxiety showed a positive correlation with interpersonal sensitivity (r = 0.43) and negative correlations with perceived social support (r = -0.32) and psychological capital (r = -0.40), all significant (p < 0.001). Interpersonal sensitivity directly affects anxiety (β = 0.306, SE = 0.023, 95% CI [0.260, 0.352]). Psychological capital served as an independent mediator (β = 0.051, SE = 0.011, 95% CI [0.031, 0.075]) and also in a chain mediation with social support (β = 0.050, SE = 0.104, 95% CI [0.031, 0.072]).

CONCLUSION

Interpersonal sensitivity is a positive predictor of anxiety symptoms. Both psychological capital and social support effectively reduce interpersonal sensitivity and anxiety symptoms. Enhancing the availability of psychological capital and social support for nursing students is essential.

Profiles and Influencing Factors of Work-Family Balance Among Nurses in China: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Latent Profile Analysis

Aim: To profile the work-family balance (WFB) among clinical nurses and identify their influencing factors. Background: WFBs take on various patterns in nurses. Nurses with different characteristics exhibit various patterns of WFB. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed, involving 1292 nurses from public hospitals in Jiangsu Province from February to April 2024. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to categorize the data, and multinominal logistic regression analysis to determine factors influencing WFB. Results: A total of 1718 questionnaires were distributed, yielding 1292 valid responses (a response rate of 75.2%). The total score of WFB was 44.35 ± 8.693 points. The LPA revealed three profiles of WFB: the family priority group (28.1%), the balanced adaptation group (46.8%), and the challenge coping group (25.1%). The entropy value was high (0.892), indicating a correct classification. Multivariate regression analyses showed that professional title, department, nonclinical work pressure, organizational identification, work meaning, and self-efficacy as factors influencing WFB profiles. Conclusion: The WFB among nurses was at a moderate level with significant heterogeneity and could be divided into three profiles. The challenge coping group presented lower professional titles and higher self-efficacy, and working at surgical, pediatric, and other specialized departments. Managers can tailor intervention strategies based on the characteristics and influencing factors of each profile. Implications for Nursing Management: Nursing managers must consider the characteristics of high-risk groups and factors that affect WFB and take targeted measures to mitigate work-family conflicts (WFC) among nurses and stabilize the nursing workforce.

Work-related burnout and its associated factors among kindergarten teachers: a multi-center cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

Introduction

Work-related burnout is a state of severe physical and mental fatigue and exhaustion resulting from unmanaged prolonged work stress. Kindergarten teachers are at higher risk of work-related burnout compared to other teaching professionals, due to their dual roles as both caregivers and educators for young children. The demands and stresses of these combined responsibilities, coupled with factors such as low salaries, contribute to an increased risk of burnout in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate work-related burnout prevalence and associated factors among kindergarten teachers in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in March and April of 2024. A sample of 422 kindergarten teachers was recruited using simple random sampling techniques. A standardized, self-administered Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was utilized to measure work-related burnout. We used EpiData V4.6 and SPSS V26 for data entry and analysis, respectively. A bivariable logistic regression analysis (p-value < 0.2) was performed to find factors associated with work-related burnout. Variables found significant in the bivariable analysis were then exported into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify statistically significant variables at a p value < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval.

Results

The response rate was 95% (401/422). 97.5% of the participants were female, and the participants' mean (standard deviation) age was 28.5 years (SD ± 5.8). In the past 6 months, the total prevalence of WRB was 39.7% [95% CI (34.8, 44.6)]. Work-family conflicts [AOR: 2.81; 95% CI (1.77, 4.45)], working conditions [AOR: 1.63; 95% CI (1.03, 2.56)], perceived stress [AOR: 1.91; 95% CI (1.21, 3.01)], job dissatisfaction [AOR: 1.75, 95% CI (1.10, 2.79)], and kindergarten type [AOR: 1.66; 95% CI (1.02, 2.68)] were factors significantly associated with WRB.

Conclusion

According to this study, a significant number of kindergarten teachers were affected by burnout due to their working nature. To address this issue, interventions focused at reducing work-family conflicts, increasing job satisfaction, and improving the school environment are necessary to support teachers' well-being, benefiting both young students and the broader educational landscape.

Latent profile analysis of burnout, depression, and anxiety symptoms among Chinese medical staff with frontline anti-epidemic experience in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era

Background

Frontline medical staff's psychological symptoms deserve persistent attention after 3 years of high-pressure and high-intensity work during the pandemic. In addition, the meaning of burnout and its relationship with depression and anxiety have long been debated. This study aimed to identify profiles of these symptoms among Chinese medical staff with frontline anti-epidemic experience, along with their distinguishing characteristics.

Methods

Psychological symptoms of burnout (exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy), depression, and anxiety from 989 doctors and 1,105 nurses were explored with latent profile analysis. The R3step method was conducted to analyze the predictive factors of those medical staff's symptoms.

Results

Three symptom profiles were identified for medical staff, with high-level (62.1%), moderate-level (28.9%), and low-level symptoms (9.0%). In the low-level and moderate-level profiles, symptom variables considered had a consistent trend. However, within the high-level profile, the inefficacy of burnout remained at a lower level, and anxiety performed as the most prominent symptom. Variables of gender, age, salary satisfaction, work hours, and work intensity predicted medical staff profiles (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In the post-COVID-19 era, former frontline Chinese medical staff's psychological symptoms were divided into three latent profiles. Symptoms of burnout, depression, and anxiety did not move in lock-step, indicating that they are different and robust constructs. Targeted intervention strategies should be developed for different subgroups.

Occupational stress trajectories and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among female nurses: a prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prominent cause of chronic liver disease, and occupational stress may serve as a potential risk factor. This study aims to assess the association between occupational stress trajectories and incident MASLD among Chinese female nurses.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective longitudinal study using data from the Nurse' Health Cohort Study, involving 1,113 female nurses, free of MASLD at baseline (2018). Occupational stress was measured using the Chinese Nurse Job Stress Scale at four time points. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify distinct stress trajectories. Through doctors' diagnoses, we assessed incident MASLD over a subsequent 6-year period from 2019 to 2024. Cox proportional hazards regression models evaluated the association of stress trajectories and MASLD risk, adjusting for demographics, work-related factors, and medical conditions.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 256 nurses reported incident physician-diagnosed MASLD. Three occupational stress trajectories were identified: moderate decreasing (36.4%), moderate stable (55.9%), and moderate increasing (7.7%). Participants in the moderate increasing stress trajectory had a significantly higher risk of developing MASLD (adjusted HR: 3.14, 95% CI: 2.19-4.49, p < .001) compared to those in the moderate stable trajectory. This association between stress trajectory and MASLD risk was not modified by age or BMI (pinteraction>0.50).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The study concludes that increasing stress levels over time are associated with a higher incidence of MASLD. These findings underscore the importance of stress management interventions in reducing the risk of MASLD progression. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to develop targeted strategies for stress reduction in clinical settings.

The effects of work-family conflict, work engagement, and job burnout on self-rated health of public health emergency responders in Jilin Province, China, in the context of the COVID-19

Introduction

Amid sudden public health crises, preserving the well-being and optimal working states of frontline healthcare professionals is imperative for efficaciously managing the emergences. However, there is a paucity of research investigating the health status of frontline healthcare professionals through the perspective of work-family conflict. This study sought to elucidate the complex interrelations between work-family conflict, work engagement, job burnout, and self-rated health among public health emergency responders within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A convenience sampling method was employed to survey 1,309 public health emergency responders at the Jilin Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. An online survey was administered utilizing a self-constructed questionnaire. The hypothesized relationships between the variables were tested using structural equation modeling.

Results

The direct impact of work-family conflict on self-rated health is not significant. The association between work-family conflicts and self-rated health was significantly mediated by work engagement and job burnout, respectively. Meanwhile, work engagement and job burnout had a chain mediating effect on work-family conflict and self-rated health.

Conclusion

Work-family conflict plays a critical role in shaping the health and work status of public health emergency responders during public health crises. Organizations and managers should, in their workplace management practices, focus not only on work-related factors but also give due consideration to family-related factors. Supportive policies, including family-friendly initiatives, should be developed to safeguard the health and work engagement of public health emergency responders.

Spiritual Intelligence and Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice: A Bibliometric Review

Spiritual intelligence (SI) has recently gained traction in various fields, including nursing. Given the increasing emphasis on patient-centred care and the holistic well-being of patients and nurses, SI is particularly relevant in nursing practice. A bibliometric analysis of recent publications (2014-2024) in the field helps synthesise and evaluate the existing research on SI in the general field of nursing, identify literature gaps, suggest future research directions and raise awareness of the importance of SI in nursing practice. The present study reports bibliometric data (n = 461) from the Scopus database on SI, spiritual quotient and spiritual care in nursing and health care. The data are analysed using MS Excel and VOSviewer software. The publications' trend analysis revealed a significant increase in SI-related publications since 2015. The study presents top-cited articles. Journal of Religion and Health was found to be a prominent journal with the maximum number of publications, and Sage was found to be the top publisher of journals with articles on SI. Network visualisation reveals central figures such as Wilfred McSherry, Trove Giske, Elizabeth Johnston Taylor, Fiona Timmins, Silvia Caldeira and Linda Ross as key researchers in the field. The United States and Iran have the most substantial connections of authors publishing on SI. This study reveals an increasing interest in SI and care within nursing research, confirming its growing significance in the field. By reporting areas where research on SI in nursing remains underdeveloped, the study paves the way for the development of new or updated curricula in nursing programs. The study can guide faculty development initiatives by highlighting the importance of SI and providing resources for educators to incorporate these concepts into their teaching. This study presents specific research questions to address these knowledge gaps. Future studies which can address these questions will enrich nursing education and practice, leading to improved patient outcomes and enhanced nurse well-being using the full potential of SI in nursing practice.

The Variables Associated with Burnout Among Korean Early Childhood Teachers: A Meta-Analysis

Researchers have done a great deal of research on the variables associated with early childhood teacher burnout, but the findings are numerous and inconsistent. Therefore, this study explored the variables most associated with burnout among early childhood teachers through meta-analysis. The National Assembly Electronic Library in Korea, Riss, the National Electronic Library, and DBpia databases were all thoroughly searched by researchers. Strict inclusion criteria resulted in the inclusion of 201 studies, and 35 variables total—divided into 5 variable groups—were analyzed. The results showed that the most correlated variable group with burnout was the psychological personality protective variable, and the largest effect size variables among the variable groups were age ( r = −.3052), resilience ( r = −.5415), calling ( r = −.526), turnover intention ( r = .5021), and interpersonal relationships ( r = −.4552). However, the variables in the psychological personality risk variable were not statistically significant. Although more thorough validation by follow-up studies is still required, these findings offer a more scientific data reference for the prevention and improvement of burnout among early childhood teachers in Korea and suggest a direction for future research.

The relationship between medical staff burnout and subjective wellbeing: the chain mediating role of psychological capital and perceived social support

Background

Medical staff play a crucial role in delivering healthcare services, especially during epidemics of infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is a growing issue of burnout and low wellbeing among this group. While it is widely recognized that burnout has a negative impact on subjective wellbeing, the exact relationship between the two is not yet completely understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the chain mediating role of psychological capital and perceived social support between burnout and subjective wellbeing among medical staff.

Methods

Using the convenient sampling method, 604 medical staff were selected for a cross-sectional study. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire that collected demographic information, as well as data from the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, General Wellbeing Schedule, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support Scale. SPSS 27.0 and SPSS PROCESS macro were used for data analysis.

Results

There was a significant correlation between burnout, psychological capital, perceived social support, and subjective wellbeing (p < 0.01). Burnout not only has a direct negative impact on the subjective wellbeing of medical staff (effect: -0.2045; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.2506, -0.1583), but also exerts an indirect influence on subjective wellbeing through three pathways: the independent mediating effect of psychological capital (effect: -0.0481; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.0876, -0.0109), the independent mediating effect of perceived social support (effect: -0.0092; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.0203, -0.0003), and the chained mediating effect of psychological capital and perceived social support (effect: -0.0092; Bootstrap 95%CI: -0.0183, -0.0019).

Conclusion

High burnout in medical staff can impair the level of psychological capital, leading to diminished perceived social support and ultimately reduced subjective wellbeing. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the potential pathways between burnout and subjective wellbeing and provide preliminary data support for developing strategies to improve the mental health of medical staff.

Work-family conflict categories and support strategies for married female nurses: a latent profile analysis

Objective

To clarify subgroups of married female nurses experiencing work-family conflict (WFC), explore the factors associated with the subgroups, and determine how desired support strategies differ among the subgroups.

Methods

Data was collected from a sample of 646 married female nurses from public hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, in December 2021. Latent profile analysis was used to group the participants, and multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with higher WFC. The STROBE criteria were used to report results.

Results

According to latent profile analysis, there were three distinct profiles of WFC among married female nurses: "low-conflict type," "work-dominant-conflict type," and "high-conflict type." These profiles differed in the number of children, night shifts, family economic burden, childcare during working hours, family harmony, colleague support, and nurse-patient relationships. Nurses with multiple children, higher pressures in childcare during working hours, heavier family economic burdens, lower family harmony, lower colleague support, and poorer nurse-patient relationships are more likely to be classified as "high-conflict type" nurses.

Conclusion

This study found that married female nurses experience different types of WFCs. The structure of these WFCs and their associated factors suggests that customized intervention strategies can be developed to address the specific needs of married female nurses.

Moral distress, psychological capital, and burnout in registered nurses

AIMS

This study aimed to explore the relationship among moral distress, psychological capital, and burnout in registered nurses.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University (Approval no. 2022001).

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 397 nurses from three Grade-A tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China. Participants completed demographic information, the Nurses' Moral Distress Scale, the Nurses' Psychological Capital Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

The study found that moral distress and burnout are positively correlated, while psychological capital is negatively correlated with both moral distress and burnout. The path analysis in structural equation modeling revealed that moral distress has a significant direct effect on psychological capital, while psychological capital has a significant direct effect on burnout. In addition, moral distress also had a significant indirect effect on burnout through psychological capital. Moreover, both the direct effect of moral distress on burnout and the total effect of moral distress on burnout were significant.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that psychological capital plays an important role in the relationship between moral distress and burnout. Promoting psychological capital among nurses may be a promising strategy for preventing moral distress and burnout in the workplace.

A Systematic Patent Review (2008-2023) for Treatment in Pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

During pregnancy, the woman's body undergoes anatomical and physiological changes, making this period susceptible to maternal-fetal diseases and complications. The consequences of not treating pregnant women include premature birth, low birth weight fetuses, and postnatal behavior disorders. Developing new therapies can accelerate the discovery of safe and effective drugs, contributing to designing novel natural and synthetic products to treat complications the pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to carry out a patent review to identify and explore trends in innovation and therapeutic strategies for treating pregnant women.

METHODS

The Espacenet and WIPO databases were used, with the inclusion criteria being the keywords "pregnancy and drug" and code A61k, from 2008 to 2023, and as exclusion were the access to the patent and focus on human pregnant women.

RESULTS

After the final screening, 32 patents were selected, with strategies for the treatment of diseases in pregnant women. Of these, 20 patents are on preclinical studies on animals and 12 on pregnant women. It was observed that universities lead the ranking of applications (17/32), and China has the highest number of patents (18/32). Most findings contain herbal medicines and/or the association of natural extracts with synthetic drugs.

CONCLUSION

From this perspective, new drug administration systems were also developed, which can be a promising source for obtaining new medicines for the treatment of pregnant women; however, research is still limited and shows a gap in stimulating the rapid development of safe drugs that improve the health of pregnant women.

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.

Effects of work-family conflict on turnover intention among primary medical staff in Huaihai Economic Zone: a mediation model through burnout

Background

Countries worldwide face the challenge of how medical personnel manage conflicts between work and family. Especially after the challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic, it is necessary to explore the possible mechanisms of work-family conflict, burnout, and turnover intention among primary medical staff.

Objectives

This study aims to observe the turnover intention of Chinese primary medical staff and explore the relationship between work-family conflict, burnout, and turnover intention.

Methods

A cross-sectional study included a turnover intention questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), and the Work-Family Conflict Scale (WFCS) to understand turnover intention, burnout, and work-family conflict among primary medical staff in four cities (Xuzhou, Linyi, Huaibei, and Shangqiu cities) within the Huaihai Economic Zone. Spearman correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used to examine the related factors of turnover intention. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to study the mediating role of burnout between work-family conflict and turnover intention.

Results

In this study, there is a positive correlation between work-family conflict and turnover intention (P < 0.01). Demographic characteristics, work-family conflict, and burnout explained 2.3%, 20.3%, and 8.8% of the incremental variances, respectively. Burnout mediated the association between work-family conflict and turnover intention.

Conclusions

Burnout can be regarded as a mediator between two different variables: work-family conflict and turnover intention. Improving work-family conflict and alleviating burnout may play a key role in reducing the willingness of primary medical staff to resign. Corresponding measures can be taken to balance the conflict between work and family, alleviate burnout, reduce turnover rates, and build a primary medical staff team with higher medical service quality and stability.

Effect of depressive symptoms on quality of work life in female nurses: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching

Background

Female nurses have been considered as a vulnerable population in the context of mental health, due to the nature of their work, which can be stressful and emotionally taxing. Understanding the relationship between depressive symptoms and quality of work life (QWL) can contribute to improving mental health and job performance. However, limited studies have focused on the effect of depressive symptoms on QWL in female nurses.

Objectives

The present study aimed to assess the effect of depressive symptoms on female nurses' QWL using propensity score matching (PSM).

Methods

A cross-sectional, online study using convenience sampling was conducted among 1,401 female nurses in China. PSM was used to minimize the impact of potential confounders between no depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed on the PSM samples to explore the effects of depressive symptoms on the QWL.

Results

The results revealed there were 33.5% of the female nurses reported depressive symptoms before PSM. And female nurses in this study had a moderate level of QWL before PSM (122.11 ± 18.15), which remained steady after PSM (118.33 ± 18.04). After PSM, the final sample contained 864 female nurses. Stepwise multiple linear regression results indicated that depressive symptoms were the most strongly associated with QWL (β = -0.454, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of developing mental health plans and psychological interventions for female nurses to maintain mental health and QWL, which is critical to the nursing workforce's sustainability.

Burnout Levels in Nurses and Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Cross-Sectional Study

Previous studies have shown that sudden changes in the nature of nursing work and their work environment related to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the professional experience of nurses, and consequently led to an increase in professional burnout in this professional group. Thus, the aim of the study was to measure occupational burnout among nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. A cross-sectional study was conducted with pediatric and surgery female nurses (N = 110, mean age 51 ± 6.92) from the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Włocławek, Poland. The participants completed the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ) and the Socio-Demographic Questionnaire (SDQ). The data were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U test. The study showed that high burnout affected 6.4% of nurses. The level of professional burnout for the subscales of psychophysical exhaustion, relationship deterioration, professional inefficacy and disappointment was 28.2%, 26.4%, 11.8% and 13%, respectively (mean score: 19.85 ± 6.51, 18.03 ± 5.15, 13.74 ± 4.07 and 17.61 ± 5.85, respectively). The results show that surgical nurses were statistically more likely to experience professional burnout. In sum, burnout among nurses has become a serious problem, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why it is so important to continue research in this area. Hospital management needs to take urgent action to address the systemic and professional issues that contribute to the suboptimal mental health of nurses.