Objective: To study the effects of occupational stressors on coping resources of nurses.
Methods: Coping resources (recreation, self-care, social support, rational coping) and occupational stressors (role overload, role insufficiency, role ambiguity, role boundary, responsibility, physical environment) were measured on 387 nurses by personal resources questionnaire (PRQ) and Occupational Role Questionnaire (ORQ) respectively.
Results: The higher the level of occupational stressors was, the lower the coping resources of nurses were (P < 0.01). The level of occupational stressors was in a negative correlation with the coping resources of nurses, and the correlation with social support was the closest (P < 0.01). Except responsibility, all items in occupational stressors were correlated negatively with coping resources. The role insufficiency and role ambiguity in occupational stressors were in a closer correlation with coping resources (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Decresing the levels of occupational stressors for nurses in Nanchang, especially decreasing the levels of role insufficiency and role ambiguity, would enhance the coping resources of nurses, so as to enhance their capability to relieve strain.