The cultural difference between empowerment and job satisfaction among nurses: An umbrella review

To synthesize and analyze the relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction among nurses in the cultural context using an umbrella review.

Empowerment improves individual autonomy, rights, and responsibilities, allowing employees to feel more control and accountability in their work and improving job satisfaction. Cultural differences also influence perceptions of power and responsibility, affecting empowerment, acceptance, and job satisfaction. Although some systematic reviews explored the relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction among nurses, the results were inconsistent, especially because of cultural contexts. Umbrella review can integrate and analyze the gap and provide final evidence.

An umbrella review was conducted using the JBI guidelines. Seven academic databases were searched, and papers were published from database inception until June 2024. Inclusion criteria were the systematic review related to the relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction among nurses.

A total of five systematic reviews, including 67 single studies, were included. Empowerment is positively correlated with job satisfaction. Cultural differences may influence the levels of empowerment provided to nurses and the relationship between cultural differences and various forms of empowerment related to job satisfaction among nurses. Although the relationship between structural empowerment and job satisfaction does not show significant differences in cultural differences, psychological empowerment reveals weakness to moderate correlations, especially in Western contexts.

Enhancing psychological empowerment can improve job satisfaction, especially in Western cultures. Managers should consider cultural background to provide suitable empowerment, improve job satisfaction, potentially increase commitment and effectiveness, and reduce turnover.

This umbrella review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024580679).