Can work-related stress and job satisfaction affect job commitment among nurses? A cross-sectional study

Background: Considering the significant role of nurses in health care and the importance of commitment in public health, the aim of this study was to examine the association between work-related stress, and job satisfaction and commitment among nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study has been performed among 100 nurses working in a teaching hospital affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, northern Iran, in 2015. The participants were assessed by standard questionnaires on work-related stress, and job satisfaction and commitment. Descriptive indexes were analysed via regression and correlation. Results: The participants were aged between 25 and 45 years. In total, 85% of nurses held a bachelor degree and the rest were postgraduates. Most of the nurses (77%) had experience in their job for more than 10 years. Total score of mean job commitment showed a high score among nurses (102.9±8.9); job satisfaction also showed a mean of (261.6±27.44). Total score of work-related stress was (112.0±11.99). The results indicated that job satisfaction and work-related stress explained 54% of variance in job commitment. The overall job satisfaction (Beta = 0.471, p<0.05) and overall work stress (Beta = -0.635, p<0.102) influenced job commitment. Conclusion : The results of the present study showed that work stress and job satisfaction affects job commitment among nurses. Therefore, it is advisable to pay more attention to job satisfaction and stress in these sensitive occupations, to promote commitment and job efficacy.