Disordered eating and job stress among nurses
Keith A King1, Rebecca Vidourek, Michelle Schwiebert
1Health Promotion and Education Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0068, USA. keith.king@uc.edu
Journal of Nursing Management
|October 2, 2009
Summary
High job stress and low body satisfaction increase disordered eating in nurses. Employee wellness programs are recommended to support healthy lifestyle choices for this high-risk group.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Disordered eating is linked to higher perceived stress.
- Nurses operate in high-stress environments, potentially increasing their risk.
- Understanding these risks is crucial for nurse well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate disordered eating behaviors among nurses in Ohio.
- To identify factors associated with disordered eating in this population.
Main Methods:
- A survey was mailed to 1000 randomly selected nurses in Ohio.
- Data from 435 registered nurses (RNs) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Disordered eating significantly correlated with perceived job stress and body satisfaction.
- Nurses experiencing high job stress and low body satisfaction reported greater disordered eating.
- The majority of participants were registered nurses over 31 years old.
Conclusions:
- High job stress places nurses at increased risk for disordered eating.
- Developing employee wellness programs is essential for nurse support and education.
- Further research is recommended to explore these findings.
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