Factors associated with workplace stress and health promotion behaviours among Chinese emergency nurses: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

The aim: To explore and describe workplace stress levels and health-promoting behaviours reported by emergency nurses in China, and to investigate factors associated with workplace stress and health-promoting lifestyle behaviours among emergency nurses.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2019 and January 2020. Nurses (n = 1565) were recruited from the emergency departments of 54 hospitals within the Sichuan Province of West China. Each subject completed the Chinese versions of the Nurse Workplace Stress Scale, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) and demographic questions. Linear regression analyses were used to identify associations between workplace stress and the health-promoting lifestyle and risk factors correlated with these two measurements.

Results: Workplace stress was negatively associated with health-promoting behaviours. Linear regression analysis showed that gender, marital status, whether wages met expected standards and professional rank were found to be associated with health promotion behaviours; marital status, whether income met expected standards, the number of night shifts per month and health promotion behaviours were found to be associated with workplace stress.

Conclusion: Higher levels of workplace stress are associated with lower levels of engagement in health-promoting behaviours, suggesting the potential for reducing workplace stress through the adoption of healthier habits. Policies should prioritize workplace stress by promoting healthy lifestyle initiatives.

Keywords: Health‐Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP‐II); Nurse Workplace Stress Scale; health promotion; workplace stress.