JOB-RELATED STRESS AND PROFESSIONAL SELF-ESTEEM AMONG PSYCHIATRIC NURSES IN SAUDI ARABIA: A QUANTITATIVE INQUIRY

Abstract

Abstract Background: Workplace accidents and financial burdens are greatly influenced by stress, which has a substantial impact on both employee health and organizational costs in the United States. Nearly ninety percent of employee medical issues can be attributed to job-related stress. Psychiatric nurses in Saudi Arabia, particularly those employed in acute inpatient mental health wards, experience comparable levels of job-related stress. This scenario highlights the significance of investigating the correlation between job related stress and professional self-esteem among psychiatric nurses to improve their coping strategies, productivity, and overall welfare. Purpose: This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study examined the relationship between job-related stress and professional self-esteem among Saudi Arabian nurses working in psychiatric hospitals. Philosophical Underpinning: The Conservation of Resources Theory guided this study. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational approach to collect data from a convenience sample of psychiatric nurses in Saudi Arabia. A demographic questionnaire was employed by researchers and two standardized measures were used, namely the Professional Self-Esteem Scale and the Psychiatric Nurse Job Stressor Scale. Results: A final sample of eighty psychiatric nurses were included in the analysis for the study. A statistically significant negative relationship was identified between job-related stress and professional self-esteem among psychiatric nurses (r = -0.785, p < 0.01). This suggests that higher levels of job-related stress are related to lower professional self-esteem. The research findings showed no significant differences in job-related stress (ꭓ² = 4.29, p > 0.05) or professional self-esteem (ꭓ² = 1.58, p = 0.46) among emergency, inpatient and outpatient departments in Saudi Arabian hospitals. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need to address job-related stress and its influence on the professional self-esteem of psychiatric nurses. The results offer significant insights for healthcare organizations and policymakers to develop initiatives to alleviate stress and improve self-esteem in psychiatric institutions. It emphasizes the importance of considering individual and systemic factors in addressing job stress and self-esteem among nurses. The study contributes to nursing knowledge by establishing the relationship between professional self-esteem and job-related stress, promoting evidence-based strategies and policies to improve nurses' well-being and healthcare quality.