|
|
|
|
|
Tara A. Williams, MPA, MPH, CHES, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS 4050, Morgantown, WV 26505, 304-285-6222, tow9@cdc.gov, Jennifer L. Welbourne, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, Donald E. Eggerth, PhD, Education and Information Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, C-10, Cincinnati, OH 45226, and Francisco P. Sanchez, PhD, Psychology Service, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, 1501 San Pedro SE, 116B, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
Nurses frequently experience multiple, chronic, occupationally related stressors. Chronic occupational stress can lead to increased levels of depression and it is estimated that healthcare workers suffer from rates of depression two to three times higher than the general population. In this study, 190 of 381 nurses (50%) from a southwestern U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center completed a mailed self-report questionnaire assessing levels of stress, job satisfaction, attributional style and coping strategies for dealing with workplace stress. Data analysis suggests that attributional style, job satisfaction and stress are all significantly associated with coping strategies. Having a positive attributional style towards positive events (i.e. job promotion, project completion) was significantly correlated with using the coping strategy of reframing (i.e. looking for something good in the situation) (p<0.05). Having a positive attributional style towards negative events (i.e. work overload, difficulties with supervisor) was significantly correlated with active (i.e. doing something about the situation) (p<0.01) and planning (i.e. developing a strategy) (p<0.05) coping styles. Global job satisfaction, intrinsic job satisfaction (i.e. feeling of accomplishment, independence), and lower levels of stress were significantly correlated with more positive types of coping strategies. These results suggest that respondents with a positive attributional style and a high level of job satisfaction cope with stress by focusing on positive ways to resolve the situation.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Coping, Nurses
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.