title: Relationship between depressive state, job stress, and sense of coherence among female nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with a strong sense of coherence (SOC) have a high ability to cope with stress and maintain good physical and mental health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between depressive state, job stress, and SOC among nurses in a Japanese general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-reporting survey was conducted among 348 female nurses in a general hospital. Job stress was measured using the Japanese version of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) scale. Depressive state was assessed by the K6 scale. SOC was assessed with the SOC scale, which includes 29 items. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine factors that significantly affect depressive state.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SOC, over-commitment, effort-esteem ratio, and age were significantly correlated with the depressive state (β = -0.46, P < 0.001; β = 0.27, P < 0.001; β = 0.16, P < 0.001; β = -0.10, P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SOC may have a major influence on the depressive state among female nurses in a Japanese general hospital. From a practical perspective, health care professionals should try to enhance the SOC of nurses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okuzumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mihoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Nurse, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishi
keywords: Depressive state; effort-reward imbalance over-commitment; sense of coherence