The relative influence of personal and workplace descriptors on stress

A survey canvassing self-reported workplace stress levels and personal/workplace demographics was conducted among a sample of Australian nurses. Stress ratings and demographics were cross-sectionally analysed. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of survey responses suggest that excessive workload is the likely dominant predictor of workplace stress. Personal and workplace demographics are shown to be relatively unimportant in comparison with workload-related factors. Regular exercise habit was shown to be correlated with reduced workplace stress ratings. The findings support a previously unreported view that nurses are unlikely to bring their personal stress with them to the workplace--rather the workload characteristics of the workplace itself are the principle stress determinants.