Role of perceived social support and job satisfaction on psychological distress of clinical nurses

Nurses, as one of the most important groups of care providers, always face with many stressors, which have negative effects for both the nurses and the patients. This study was aimed to investigate the role of perceived social support and job satisfaction on psychological distress of clinical nurses working in hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences.

This was a correlational study and the statistical population consisted of all nurses working in hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences in 2018-2019 (Iran). Using stratified random sampling method, a number of 330 nurses were selected as the sample (264 females and 66 males). A four-part questionnaire was used for data collection which included the Demographic Characteristics, Perceived Social Support Scale, Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

The results showed that perceived social support had a significant negative relationship with the psychological distress in nurses (with a regression coefficient of -0.25). Also, job satisfaction had a significant negative relationship with nurseschr('39') psychological distress (with a regression coefficient of -0.15). The perceived social support and job satisfaction explained 10% of the variance in nurseschr('39') psychological distress.

The results showed that perceived social support and job satisfaction decreased nurseschr('39') psychological distress. Considering that psychological distress causes mental health disorder and decreases nurseschr('39') efficiency, emphasis on the need to develop strategies by nursing managers to increase social and organizational support and improve working conditions.