[The relationship between hardiness, coping strategies and burnout in psychiatric nurses]

Hardiness is a personality trait in which the ability to buffer the health related effects of stress is inherent. It has been frequently and enthusiastically investigated in connection with human health. In order to understand hardiness in psychiatric nurses, to prevent burnout, and to enhance the quality of nursing care, this study sought to investigate the relationships between hardiness, burnout and quality of nursing care. One hundred and forty-seven psychiatric nurses were selected in a stratified random sample from the psychiatric units of district hospitals in Taipei City. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and concerned: (1) demographic variables, (2) the Health Related Hardiness Scale, (3) the Jalowiec Coping Scale, and (4) the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The main results indicated that: (1) Most respondents enjoyed high levels of hardiness (M = 157.84, SD = 18.42); (2) Respondents' levels of hardiness were positively correlated to the use of confrontational coping styles, optimistic coping styles, supportive coping styles and self-reliant coping styles; (3) Levels of hardiness were negatively correlated to emotional exhaustion but positively correlated to personal accomplishment; (4) There was a significantly positive correlation between the evasive coping style and emotional exhaustion; (5) The confrontational, optimistic and self-reliant coping styles were positively correlated to personal accomplishment. The findings of this study should contribute to our understanding of the relationship between hardiness, coping strategies and burnout in psychiatric nurses.