Sailaxmi Gandhi1, G Sangeetha2, Nurnahar Ahmed3, S K Chaturvedi4. 1. Department of Nursing, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Institute of National Importance), Near Wilson Garden, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029, Karnataka State, India. Electronic address: sailaxmi63@yahoo.com. 2. National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Institute of National Importance), Near Wilson Garden, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029, Karnataka State, India. Electronic address: sangeetha.canfnza@gmail.com. 3. Department of Nursing, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, India. Electronic address: anurnahar@gmail.com. 4. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Institute of National Importance), Near Wilson Garden, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029, Karnataka State, India. Electronic address: skchatur@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: High stress perception by nurses caring for psychiatric patients can lead to somatic symptoms which impact on their job satisfaction perception. OBJECTIVE: To assess and correlate the level of somatic symptoms, perceived stress and perceived job satisfaction among the subjects. DESIGN: The authors used a descriptive correlation design to invite 150 nurses of both genders working for more than one year with psychiatric patients. The Scale for Assessment of Somatic Symptoms (Chaturvedi et al., 1987) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for stress and job satisfaction perception were used to collect data. RESULTS: The nurses (128) reported mainly pain related (4.87±2.97) somatic symptoms. Somatic symptoms positively correlated (r=0.302) with stress perception and negatively correlated (r=-0.231) with perceived job satisfaction, while perceived stress and perceived job satisfaction were negatively correlated (r=-0.460, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need for stress management interventions.
BACKGROUND: High stress perception by nurses caring for psychiatricpatients can lead to somatic symptoms which impact on their job satisfaction perception. OBJECTIVE: To assess and correlate the level of somatic symptoms, perceived stress and perceived job satisfaction among the subjects. DESIGN: The authors used a descriptive correlation design to invite 150 nurses of both genders working for more than one year with psychiatricpatients. The Scale for Assessment of Somatic Symptoms (Chaturvedi et al., 1987) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for stress and job satisfaction perception were used to collect data. RESULTS: The nurses (128) reported mainly pain related (4.87±2.97) somatic symptoms. Somatic symptoms positively correlated (r=0.302) with stress perception and negatively correlated (r=-0.231) with perceived job satisfaction, while perceived stress and perceived job satisfaction were negatively correlated (r=-0.460, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need for stress management interventions.