Situational supports and job stress: a correlational study

This correlational study provides information for creating a nursing work environment that supports coping with stress. Questionnaire-generated data were collected from registered staff nurses (N = 538) in two urban, acute care hospitals. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that situational support variables (autonomy, control over practice, group cohesion, substantive exchange, manager consideration) correlated inversely with job stress. Predictor variables and demographics explained 37% of the variance in situational job stress [F(13, 442) = 19.74, P < .001] and 28% of the variance in personal job stress [F(13, 442) = 13.03, P < .001]. The variables may serve as situational supports for nurses coping with job stress.