Analysis of Factors Related to Mental Health, Suppression of Emotions, and Personality Influencing Coping with Stress among Nurses

Abstract

(1) The specificity of a nurse’s work, apart from performing medical procedures, is characterized by intensive contacts with other people. Stress is an inevitable part of a nurse’s job and can affect their physical and mental health. Thus, strategies for coping with stress play an important role in improving health or well-being by reducing the level of stress. (2) The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of coping strategies in predicting the overall health of nurses. The study also assessed the impact of personality traits and emotional control (anger, depression, anxiety) on the choice of coping with stress among nurses. (3) The study included 811 nurses from the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, with an average age of 40 (SD = 9.8), working mainly in hospitals (82%). The research was carried out with a diagnostic survey method, using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations questionnaire, NEO-Five Factor Inventor, Courtland Emotional Control Care Scale, General Health Questionnaire 30, and a demographic questionnaire. (4) Among the surveyed nurses, the dominant style of coping with stress was the style focused on emotions (MT 0.43), followed by the style focused on avoidance (MT 0.42). There were mental problems among 46.1% of the respondents. Nurses with mental problems according to GHQ-30 were characterized by a high intensity of coping styles focused on emotions (30.2%), avoiding (18.7%), and engaging in alternative activities (32.3%) (p = 0.000). (5) Most of the surveyed nurses have a tendency to cope with stress through an emotional-focused style, which may be associated with a higher level of occupational stress.