Occupational stress, coping strategies, and mental health among clinical nurses in hospitals: a mediation analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the relationship between occupational stress and mental health among clinical nurses, focusing on the mediating role of coping strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 600 clinical nurses from tertiary hospitals in Hangzhou, China. Data were...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fubi Jin, Shaomei Ni, Lin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1537120/full
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Summary:ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the relationship between occupational stress and mental health among clinical nurses, focusing on the mediating role of coping strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 600 clinical nurses from tertiary hospitals in Hangzhou, China. Data were collected using the Chinese Nurses’ Work Pressure Source Questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and the Coping Strategies Scale. Mediation analysis was performed using Bootstrap to test the hypothesized mediating effects.ResultsThe results showed that occupational stress was positively associated with mental health issues (β = 0.42, p < 0.01), and coping strategies partially mediated this relationship (indirect effect = 0.18, 95% CI [0.11, 0.27]). Nurses in high-stress departments (e.g., surgery and ICU) reported significantly higher SCL-90 scores than the national norm (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe findings suggest that positive coping strategies can mitigate the adverse effects of occupational stress on mental health. Interventions targeting coping skills training may improve nurses’ well-being and reduce burnout.
ISSN:2296-2565