Professional Quality of Life, Work-Related Stress, and Job Satisfaction among Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

OBJECTIVE: To examine the interrelated impacts of work-related stress, compassion satisfaction (CS), and job satisfaction on burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among nurses using structural equation modelling (SEM). METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to survey 727 nurses at a teaching hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia. Three scales were used: the Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale, the Nursing Stress Scale (NSS), and the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS). Data were analysed using SPSS and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS), and SEM analysis was conducted to confirm the interrelations among variables. RESULTS: The final model had a good fit for the obtained data (X(2) = 2.726, RMSEA = 0.032). Stress is directly related to BO and STS, and the following variables were directly related to STS: job satisfaction, BO, and CS. Lastly, BO mediated the relationship between stress and STS. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to analyze the effect of stress, CS, and job satisfaction which seems to have a positive and negative impact on nurses' BO and STS. Therefore, implementing a management strategy to manage stress and satisfaction can enhance nurses' quality of life, support the maintenance of positive attitudes, and enhance the standard of patient care.