title: Hardiness, coping, and burnout in the nursing workplace.
abstract: Relationships among hardiness, coping approach, and burnout were studied in a sample of 440 nurses. Within each of the coping approaches used, subjects with greater hardiness reported less stress in the form of burnout than did those with less hardiness (F = 36.21, df = 1, P = .001). Subjects using direct-active coping (changing the stressor, confronting the stressor, finding positive aspects in the situation) had the lowest burnout scores, and those using direct-inactive coping (ignoring the stressor, avoiding the stressor, leaving the stressor) had the highest (t = 2.267, df = 437, P < .012). chi 2 analysis identified independence between hardiness and coping approach. Analysis of variance identified no interaction between hardiness and coping behavior categories for burnout; however, the lowest burnout scores were encountered among nurses with greater hardiness who used direct-active coping behaviors. These findings suggest that both hardiness and direct-active coping approaches can be used independently or in concert to reduce burnout. Rationale is provided for preparing practitioners to engage in problem-solving approaches, assertive interaction, and active and direct methods of conflict resolution.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Paterson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016014:Linear Models; D009042:Motivation; D009729:Nursing; D013694:Temperament