Work-related Stress Management Behaviors of Nurses During COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

Eman Abdelaziz Rashad Dabou; Rose Ekama Ilesanmi; Carol Avil Mathias; Victoria Funmilayo Hanson

doi:10.1177/23779608221084972

Work-related Stress Management Behaviors of Nurses During COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

SAGE Open Nurs. 2022 Mar 17:8:23779608221084972. doi: 10.1177/23779608221084972. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Eman Abdelaziz Rashad Dabou^{1

2}, Rose Ekama Ilesanmi^{3

4}, Carol Avil Mathias⁵, Victoria Funmilayo Hanson³

Affiliations

¹ Medical-Surgical Nursing department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.
² College of Nursing, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
³ RAK College of Nursing, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
⁴ Department of Nursing, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
⁵ Psychology, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Abstract

Introduction: Intense psychological and emotional stress experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic interferes with their wellbeing and work efficiency. Stress-management behaviors are required to enhance coping and ameliorate stress effects. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the management behavior of nurses during the pandemic to suggest ways to improve their wellbeing.

Objective: The study aimed to examine nurses' work-related stress management behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in UAE.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 64 nurses working in the Isolation and Intensive care units of two selected hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. A convenience sampling technique was used for sample selection. Each participant completed an online survey via Google forms of two validated instruments: a 10-item scale to measure perceived stress levels and a 15-item Stress management inventory. The completed questionnaires were analyzed on SPSS version 25.

Results: Respondents (78.1%) reported a moderate level of stress (Mean = 18.03 and SD = 5.33). Stress management behaviors utilized included four elements (eliminating stressors, developing resilience, using short-term coping, and effective delegating) and the mean and SD were 17.62 ± 2.6, 17.42 ± 3.3, 8.88 ± 1.47, and 23.98 ± 3.54 respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between these four elements of stress management inventory (p = 0.00). Findings also showed a significant inverse correlation between the scores on perceived stress, short-term coping, and effective delegation. The overall regression of demographic covariates on stress management behaviors was not statistically significant [F = (1.015), (0.602), (0.909), (1.286), p >0.05].

Conclusions: Effective delegating and developing resilience were effective stress management behavior among nurses. Regular assessment of the psychological needs of nurses is essential to enhance overall wellbeing during stressful situations.

Keywords: COVID-19; United Arab Emirates; coping; resilience; stress management; work-related stress.