Predicting Problem Solving Skills Based on Nurses' Anxiety and Psychological Health

Depending on their job conditions, nurses experience various psychological problems that require problem-solving skills to solve them. Problem-solving helps manage anxiety and improve psychological health. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the prediction of problem-solving skills based on anxiety and the psychological health of nurses.

This study was a cross-sectional and correlational study. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all nurses in Kerman hospitals in 2019-2020. The sample consisted of 425 people who were selected by random sampling method and answered Beck Anxiety Inventory (1990), Goldberg and Hiller General Health Questionnaire (1979), and Heppner Problem Solving Questionnaire (1982). Subjects' scores were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation), and inferential statistics (correlation coefficient and linear regression) by SPSS-22.

Mean and standard deviation was in anxiety 22.20±4.80, mental health 29.46±5.46, and problem-solving 87.31± 7.43. The results showed that problem-solving skills had a significant negative relationship with anxiety (r= -0.412) and a positive and significant relationship with psychological health (r= -0.534). Anxiety 20% and mental health explained 16% of the variance of problem-solving (P <0.05).

Based on the findings of the present study, problem-solving skills in nurses can be predicted through anxiety and psychological health. Therefore, it is suggested that relying on training this component and strengthening it, reduce the level of anxiety and increase psychological health in nurses.