The effect of occupational stress on marital satisfaction and mental health in Iranian nurses

Abstract

Background: Work and family life are the two basic components of the individuals’ life and each one affects the other. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between occupational stress, mental health and marital satisfaction among Iranian nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 randomly selected nurses. The 35 items hospital stress scale, Enrich Marital Satisfaction questionnaire and Scl-25 mental health questionnaire were used. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test and analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. Results: Inverse correlations were observed between the scores of job stress and mental health (r = –0.468, p = 0.001) and marital satisfaction (r = –0.517, p = 0.001). More than 0.74% of variation in marital satisfaction is explained by the components of occupational stress. Conclusion: The results revealed that occupational stress plays a decisive role in nurses’ marital satisfaction and mental health. Due to the destructive effects of occupational stress on the people’s mental health, interpersonal relationships and on their efficacy in their job, establishment of some counseling services for nurses to be used by them periodically or by need, can help them to manage their stress level and better management of their family life problems. Moreover, in-service courses or workshops on stress management may help nurses to possess appropriate knowledge and skills on stress management.