Volume 30, Issue 1, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.2089
Analysis of the Relationship between Occupational Stress, Sleep Status and Mental Discomfort of Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit: A Cross-sectional Study
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between occupational stress, sleep status and mental discomfort of nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU). 58 eligible ICU nurses were regarded as the research objects according to our pre-defined inclusion criteria. Collected data included the demographics of those ICU nurses, their occupational stress scale, their physiological discomfort perception, and their sleep schedule and quality. We used the SPSS version 22 to implement for regression and correlation analyses. Based on our analysis, there was a significant correlation between the total score of occupational stress of nurses and the scores of Pittsburgh Sleep index (r= 0.33, p= 0.02). In addition, the occupational stress score was significantly associated with physiological discomfort perception scale (r= 0.50, P < 0.013). Additionally, career planning prospect and working atmosphere were negatively affected by occupational stress level, sleep quality and mental and psychological discomfort. However, the explanations for these association varied at a rate of 12.5% among questioned nurses. Therefore, there is a certain correlation between workplace stress and sleep status, mental and psychological discomfort in ICU departments. Combined with the current work pressure of ICU nurses, it is necessary to take care of the sleep status and release negative emotions, so ICU nurses could cope with their tiring and demanding job.
Keywords
Intensive care unit; Nurses' occupational stress; Sleep status; Mental and psychological discomfort; Correlation