An example of a potential predictive model for psychological distress among nursing staff members

BackgroundNursing is considered a hard job and the stressors associated with this work can have negative effects on life satisfaction, quality of life and mental health.ObjectivesThe study aimed to develop a potential predictive model to identify the main factors influencing nurses' mental health, focusing on personal characteristics, working conditions, quality of life, and life satisfaction.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was focused on a sample of nurses at university hospital center in Sfax-Tunisia. Validated self-reporting instruments were used: Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), World Health Organization Quality Of Life - BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 28). Statistical software R was used to perform the statistical analyses.ResultsThe survey included 199 nurses. The average GHQ-28 score was 27.3 ± 12.4. The predictive model identified the following significant predictors of psychological distress: female gender (β = 0.54, p < 0.001), presence of a chronic disease (β = 0.56, p < 0.001), bad financial status (β = 0.54, p < 0.001), and life satisfaction score (β = -0.6, p < 0.001), collectively explaining 40% of the variance in the total GHQ 28 score.ConclusionThese findings indicate that interventions promoting the mental health of nurses could be implemented by improving modifiable predictors such as physical health and life satisfaction.