Individual and organizational well-being in psychiatric nursing: a cross-cultural study.
Although health care systems around the world are undergoing rapid changes, there is an absence of comparative studies of how these changes affect nurses' well-being and work life. The purpose of this study was (i) to identify and describe possible differences between the psycho-social work environments of English and Swedish mental health nurses, and (ii) to attempt to explain these differences. 1016 psychiatric nurses from Stockholm (Sweden) and Birmingham (England) responded to a postal questionnaire on their psycho-social work environment and feelings of professional fulfillment, mental energy and work-related exhaustion. The study was given ethical clearance in Stockholm and Birmingham. Results indicated that while the English nurses rated their organizational well-being more favourably, Swedish psychiatric nurses reported greater individual well-being than their counterparts. Multiple regression analyses indicated that self-esteem was important for explaining mental energy and work-related exhaustion, but less so for explaining professional fulfillment, which was predicted primarily by organizational factors. When controlling for self-esteem, which was higher amongst the Swedish nurses, the differences in professional fulfillment and mental health were no longer significant. Reasons for the differences in self-esteem and experiences of the workplace are discussed. Low response rate may have contributed to a selection bias.
Thomsen
S
S
National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Stockholm, Sweden. Sarah.Thomsen@ipm.ki.se
Arnetz
B
B
Nolan
P
P
Soares
J
J
Dallender
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011593:Psychology, Social; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013548:Sweden; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology