title: The correlation between quality of life and social support in female nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between quality of life and social support in female nurses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nurses play an important role in providing care and managing patients' health in hospitals. However, limited studies have shown an association between quality of life and social support in female nurses in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate 320 full-time female nurses in different departments at four comprehensive hospitals in Harbin with a cross-sectional correlational design using questionnaires. A demographic data questionnaire, menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire and social support scale were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores on the physical (36·93 ± 17·65) and psychological (17·57 ± 9·45) subscales were higher than those of the vasomotor (4·88 ± 3·48) and sexual (4·53 ± 3·23) subscales of quality of life. The average score of objective support (25·12 ± 4·32) was higher than those of subjective support (9·80 ± 3·04) and utilisation of social support (7·80 ± 1·97). A significant association between quality of life and social support was found (p < 0·01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social support influenced quality of life. Social support as a buffer for pressure can influence individual stress perception, help individuals cope with pressure and reduce the negative impact of stress on mental and physical health, thus improving different aspects of health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhancing social support in an active environment would allow female nurses to enjoy a better quality of life in their clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.|School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.|School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Man
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Qun-Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: China; female nurses; quality of life; social support