Psychological distress, well-being, resilience, posttraumatic growth, and turnover intention of mental health nurses during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Kim Foster; Jane Shakespeare-Finch; Ian Shochet; Darryl Maybery; Minh Viet Bui; Michael Steele; Michael Roche

doi:10.1111/inm.13354

Psychological distress, well-being, resilience, posttraumatic growth, and turnover intention of mental health nurses during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2024 May 15. doi: 10.1111/inm.13354. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kim Foster¹, Jane Shakespeare-Finch², Ian Shochet², Darryl Maybery³, Minh Viet Bui¹, Michael Steele^{4

5}, Michael Roche^{6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Australia.
² Faculty of Health, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
³ Monash Rural Health, Monash University, Warragul, Australia.
⁴ School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, Banyo, Australia.
⁵ Nursing Research and Practice Development Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
⁷ ACT Government Health Directorate, Philip, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
⁸ School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 38747675
DOI: 10.1111/inm.13354

Abstract

Mental health nurses (MHNs) experience a range of stressors as part of their work, which can impact their well-being and turnover intention. There is no prior evidence, however, on MHNs' mental health, well-being, resilience, and turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this online survey-based cross-sectional study, conducted during the pandemic, were to explore the psychological distress, well-being, emotional intelligence, coping self-efficacy, resilience, posttraumatic growth, sense of workplace belonging, and turnover intention of n = 144 Australian mental health registered and enrolled nurses; and explore relationships between these variables, in particular, psychological distress, well-being, and turnover intention. There was a higher percentage of MHNs with high (27.78%) and very high psychological distress (9.72%) compared to population norms as measured by the K10. Emotional intelligence behaviours were significantly lower than the population mean (GENOS-EI Short). Coping self-efficacy was mid-range (CSES-Short). Resilience was moderate overall (Brief Resilience Scale), and posttraumatic growth was mid-range (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory; PTGI). Sense of workplace belonging was moderate, and turnover intention was low. Higher levels of psychological distress were associated with higher turnover intention, and lower workplace belonging, coping self-efficacy, well-being, resilience, and emotional intelligence behaviours. Despite the levels of psychological distress, nearly half the sample (n = 71) was 'flourishing' in terms of well-being (Mental Health Continuum Short-Form). To help prevent staff distress in the post-pandemic period, organisations need to proactively offer support and professional development to strengthen staff's psychological well-being, emotional intelligence, and resilience skills. These strategies and group clinical supervision may also support lower turnover.

Keywords: COVID‐19; mental health nursing; posttraumatic growth; resilience; turnover intention; well‐being.

Abstract

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