Analysis of current characteristics and influencing factors of stress-load in nurses of obstetrics and gynecology based on stress-appraisal-coping theory: A cross-sectional study in China

Abstract Background Long-term occupational stress of nurses and midwives in obstetrics and gynecology department will not only affect their mental health, but also threaten nursing safety and sleep quality of nursing staff. Personality characteristics and stress coping strategies may play an important and unique role in stress regulation Introduction Finding scientific methods to control the occupational stress of nurses in obstetrics and gynecology is great importantly. The purpose of this study is to determine the stress characteristics of obstetrics and gynecology nurses, and the stress differences of those with different personality characteristics and coping strategies. Methods From February 2023 to March 2023, a convenient sampling method was used to select 426 obstetric and gynecological nurses. The survey was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, the Chinese Big Five Personality Questionnaire, the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Chinese version of the Stress Overload Scale. Findings The stress risk of obstetrics and gynecology nurses showed high-stress, impact and other characteristics, and the stress-load was at a medium level, with an average score of (65.30±17.27) points. There were statistically significant differences in stress-load among nurses with different marital status, hospital level, family occupational support and work motivation (P<0.05). The stress-load level of nurses with neurotic personality and negative coping tendency was the highest (P<0.01). Discussion Based on our findings and the existing literature, we have so suggestions to relieve the stress-load of obstetrics and gynecology nurses and midwives: (1) improve social support and family support; (2) increase the application of intelligent technology appropriately; (3) cultivate positive personality and weaken negative personality; (4) provide positive psychology training; (5) take advantage of the positive interaction between individual and situations. Conclusion and Implications for Nursing Policy Nursing managers should strengthen care for nurses with significant neurotic personality, adopt flexible or magnetic management and enhance group psychological intervention or case intervention, mobilize them to face stress events with a positive attitude, and establish a positive personality.