Moderating effects of coping on work stress and job performance for nurses in tertiary hospitals: a cross-sectional survey in China

• Published in: BMC health services research Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 401
• Main Authors: Li, Li, Ai, Hua, Gao, Lei, Zhou, Hao, Liu, Xinyan, Zhang, Zhong, Sun, Tao, Fan, Lihua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 12.06.2017; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Analysis; Burnout; Burnout, Professional; China; Coping; Coping (Psychology); Cross-Sectional Studies; Data analysis; Emotional intelligence; Female; Gender differences; Health aspects; Health services; Humans; Job performance; Job Satisfaction; Job stress; Male; Marital status; Middle Aged; Moderation; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Occupational stress; Occupational Stress - psychology; Personal relationships; Questionnaires; Stress; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tertiary Care Centers; Validity; Work Performance; Work stress; Workload; Workloads; Young Adult; China; Job performance; Coping; Moderation; Nurses; Work stress
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-017-2348-3

Work stress is a major problem for nurses and it can negatively influence job performance. Therefore, it is critical to explore variables that can reduce or buffer the negative effects of work stress. This study explores the moderating effects of coping strategies on the relationship between work stress and job performance for nurses in China. A cross-sectional survey of 852 nurses from four tertiary hospitals in Heilongjiang Province, China, was conducted in 2013. Descriptive statistics were reported for socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics, level of work stress, coping strategies, and job performance. Regression analysis was conducted to test the interaction between work stress and coping strategies on job performance. Three subscales of work stress were negatively related to job performance. Positive coping strategies moderated Patient Care and job performance while negative coping strategies moderated Workload and Time and performance, and between Working Environment and Resources and performance. Positive coping strategies reduce or buffer the negative effects of work stress on job performance and negative coping strategies increased the negative effects.