How nurses cope with occupational stress outside their workplaces

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Nursing is a recognized high-stress profession with significant research on negative impacts.
• Limited research exists on effective stress-coping strategies employed by nurses.
• Understanding coping mechanisms is vital for supporting nurse mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and identify how nurses cope with work-related stress outside the workplace.
• To gain insight into the range of coping strategies utilized by nurses across different roles and clinical areas.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing six focus groups.
• Involved 38 nurses, including directors, managers, and ward nurses.
• Content analysis of interview material to identify coping strategies.

Main Results:

• Eleven distinct coping strategies were identified.
• Strategies included adaptive behaviors (e.g., exercise, family activities) and maladaptive behaviors (e.g., alcohol, smoking, displacement).
• A mix of healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms were observed among nurses.

Conclusions:

• Qualitative methods effectively reveal nurses' stress-coping mechanisms.
• Findings highlight the need for organizational strategies to promote healthier coping behaviors.
• Local knowledge generation is essential for effective workplace health initiatives for nurses.