Self-esteem, job insecurity, and psychological distress among Chinese nurses

BACKGROUND: Many studies investigate the variables relating to psychological distress among nurses, but little is known about the underlying mechanism(s) among job insecurity, self-esteem, and psychological distress. AIMS: This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence of psychological distress among nurses and the relationships among job insecurity, self-esteem, and psychological distress; it also explores how self-esteem might mediate between job insecurity and psychological distress. METHODS: Questionnaires that assess job insecurity, self-esteem, and psychological distress were collected from 462 nurses in a tertiary hospital in Shandong Province, China. RESULTS: Our results show an 83.3 % prevalence rate for psychological distress among nurses. Regression analysis results show that job insecurity positively correlates with psychological distress, explaining 17.5 % of the variance in psychological distress. Mediation analysis results show that self-esteem partially mediates the effect of the two dimensions of job insecurity on psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological distress is prevalent among Chinese nurses. Nursing administrators should take effective measures to improve self-esteem and reduce the negative impacts of job insecurity on nurses, including psychological distress.