Contact with AIDS patients as a source of work-related distress: effects of organizational and social support

In this study, we hypothesized that a nurse's exposure to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients as part of the work role is positively associated with distress as indexed by negative mood at work. Given this expected relation, we sought to identify factors that might reduce the negative effects of caring for AIDS patients on nurses. We predicted that both organizational and social support would moderate the relationship between extent of exposure and negative mood, with the relationship being strongest when support is low and weakest when support is high. The results of tests among a sample of 256 nurses supported all the hypotheses. We discuss implications of this study and directions for future research.