The effect of stress levels of nurses on performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of motivation

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is thought that nurses working at more intensive levels and in high-risk areas may increase their stress and decrease their motivations and performance. AIMS: This study aimed to determine the effects of stress and work stress on nurses’ motivations and performances. METHODS: An online, cross-sectional survey, which used self-assessment scales to measure perceived stress, perceived work stress, motivation, and work performance was used as a data collection tool. The target population was all working nurses in a hospital. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen nurses completed the questionnaires. The results of the study show that the participants' perceived motivation level (3.131 ± 0.685), perceived stress level (2.885 ± 0.547), and perceived job stress level (3.202 ± 1.067) were at a medium level, while their perceived performance level (3.845 ± 0.783) was at a high level. According to correlation analyses results, increases in perceived stress levels of nurses decrease their motivations (r = −0.502) and performances (r = −0.603). Similarly, increases in perceived work stress levels of nurses decrease their motivations (r = −0.441) and performances (r = −0.534). According to the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis, motivation has a mediating role in the negative effect of perceived stresses on performance (β = −0.694) and augments such negative effect (β = −0.169). Similarly, motivation has a mediating role in the negative effect of perceived work stresses on performance (β = −0.295) and increases the negative effect of perceived work stress on performance (β = −0.097). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses’ perceived stress and perceived work stress levels were not high, but an increase in these variables may decrease nurses’ motivation and performance. Thus, controlling nurses’ stress levels and identifying possible stress sources related to the COVID-19 pandemic are important to support nurses in their work.