A Cross-Sectional Survey on Mental Health and Working Environment of Hospital Nurses

Abstract

Relationships between mental health status of hospital nurses and their working environment were examined by a self-administered questionnaire survey among 471 nurses in three hospitals. Their mental health status was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (60-item version). Their GHQ score was apparently higher than that among the general population. The score was inversely associated with number of days off in the last month, and was also positively associated with the percieved stressors, particulary “difficult judgement in a job” and “confronting death of a patient”. The personal relationships at their work place exerted a buffering effect to the stress associated with “difficult judgement in a job”. These results suggested that a mental health promotion strategy for hospital nurses should be planned from the following three aspects: measures concerning their working environment, especially with respect to working time; measures concerning their personal relationships including on-the-job training; measures concerning their personal tolerance, such as psychological support system in a work place. © 1995, Japan Society for Occupational Health. All rights reserved.