The relationship of workplace social support to perceived work-related stress among staff nurses

This ex post facto study investigated the relationship of social support from two workplace sources, unit managers and registered nurse (RNs) coworkers, to work-related stress among staff nurses. Sample participants included 51 full-time RNs from a variety of clinical specialties in one nursing organization. The three theoretical components--affect, affirmation, and aid--were measured by the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire. The Nursing Stress Scale was used to quantify the levels of perceived work-related stress. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between affect from unit managers (r = -299; P = 0.15) and aid from coworkers (r = -.294; P = .036) on levels of perceived work-related stress. Additionally, the increased age of the subjects (r = -.342; P = .007), years of nursing experience (r = -252; P = .037), and length of employment (r = -329; P = .009) had a negative relationship with work stress. The results of this research demonstrated that two components of social support--affect (emotional support) from unit managers and aid (services, information, materials) from coworkers--were linked to lower stress scores in this sample of staff nurses.