Job stress levels and coping among hospital nurses: a latent profile analysis

This study aimed to identify job stress levels and coping profiles among hospital nurses, explore the factors influencing profile classification, and determine whether levels of job embeddedness and happiness varied among the profiles.

Data were collected through an online survey of 325 hospital nurses, and latent profiles were identified via latent profile analysis. The R3STEP (three-step auxiliary variable approach) method was used to examine the factors influencing the latent profiles, and one-way analysis of variance was conducted to analyze differences in levels of job embeddedness and happiness.

Three job stress and coping profiles were identified: (1) the "moderate stress-balanced coping group", characterized by moderate levels of job stress and moderate use of all coping strategies; (2) the "high stress-emotional coping group", with high job stress and primary use of emotional display strategies; and (3) the "low stress-adaptive coping group, with low job stress and the utilization of a variety of coping strategies. Workplace location and monthly income influenced the classification of latent profiles. Nurses working in metropolitan areas and those with lower monthly incomes were more likely to be classified into the high stress-emotional coping group than other groups. The levels of job embeddedness and happiness were highest in the low stress-adaptive coping group and lowest in the high stress-emotional coping group.

The results of this study indicate the need to develop strategies that offer diverse stress-coping programs and support nurses in effectively utilizing coping methods that best suit their individual needs.