Correlation of perceived stress, psychological capital and work engagement among outpatient nurses in top tertiary general hospitals

  Objective  To investigate the situation and influencing factors of work engagement among outpatient nurses in top tertiary general hospitals and analyze the relationship between perceived stress, psychological capital and work engagement.

  Methods  Totally 318 outpatient nurses in four top tertiary general hospitals in Shandong Province were selected with convenient sampling method. Data were collected by using the general data questionnaire, the Chinese version of Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale and Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of work engagement and the mediating role of psychological capital in perceived stress and work engagement.

  Results  The outpatient nurses had the work engagement score of(59.77±21.08), perceived stress score of(19.02±5.92) and psychological capital score of(92.34±13.89). Psychological capital played a partial mediating role between perceived stress and job involvement. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the average score of work engagement increased by 3.661 points for each level of outpatient nurses' age, while decreased by 2.316 points for every 1 point increase of perceived stress. The scores of work engagement increased by 0.656, 0.960, 0.422 and 2.249 respectively for each increase of 1 point in the dimensions of self-efficacy, hope, resilience and optimism(P < 0.01).

  Conclusions  The work engagement of outpatient nurses was at a medium level. Perceived stress either directly affects work engagement, or indirectly affects work engagement through psychological capital. Administrators should reduce perceived stress and enhance psychological capital to improve work engagement among outpatient nurses.