Role of spiritual intelligence and demographic factors as predictors of occupational stress, quality of life and coronavirus anxiety among nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic

AIM: This study investigated the impact of spiritual intelligence and demographic factors in the prediction of occupational stress, quality of life and coronavirus anxiety among nurses. DESIGN: A cross‐sectional study was planned. METHODS: The study was conducted among full‐time nurses who were employed in two teaching hospitals of Babol city which were referral centres for caring patients infected with COVID‐19 from February–May 2021. One hundred and twenty‐nine nurses completed five questionnaires including the demographic questions, Quality of life (WHOQOL‐BRIF), Occupational Role Questionnaire (ORQ), Spiritual Intelligence and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: The findings revealed that 69% of the nurses experienced moderate occupational stress, moderate quality of life and low coronavirus anxiety. Spiritual intelligence was the only significant negative predictor of occupational stress (β = −0.517, p = <0.001). The only positive predictor of quality of life was perceived income adequacy. Predicting factors of coronavirus anxiety were the perceived income adequacy as protective (β = −0.221, p = 0.022) and the number of children as predisposing (β = 0.401, p = 0.004) factors. These findings should be considered when planning nursing interventions for improvement of occupational stress, quality of life and anxiety especially during crises like the COVID‐19 pandemic.