Study of Relationship between Job Stress and Quality of Life among Nurses

Introduction: Job stress is a primary issue in the nursing profession, and nurses experience significant stress due to their work. Stress can adversely affect both the quality of life and the delivery of services to patients. This study aimed to study the relationship between job stress and quality of life among nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 274 nurses working in educational and therapeutic centers affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2021. The sample was selected through a stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Job Stress Questionnaire, and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16, which included descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. To examine the relationships between variables, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regression were employed to investigate the relationship among variables. Results: The total job stress score and quality of life were 2.97±0.23 and 3.48±0.48, respectively. The results indicated a significant inverse relationship between job stress and quality of life (r=-0.88; p<0.001). The outcomes of the regression analysis showed that job stress by itself could predict 78.6% of the changes in quality of life (B=-1.862; SE=0.59; R²adj=0.787; p<0.001). Conclusion: Occupational stress significantly affects nurses’ quality of life and may lead to adverse effects on their health and job performance. To reduce stress, it is essential to enhance working conditions, implement supportive and educational programs, and provide counseling services. Additionally, increasing awareness about stress management and coping strategies can support mental health and improve job performance.