Background: Emergency nurses are a professional group at a high risk of burnout and depression. This may influence their mental state and physical health.
Aims: The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between role stress, occupational burnout and depression among emergency nurses.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 295 emergency nurses from eight tertiary hospitals in western China. The Role Stress Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were employed. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis and regression analysis were performed.
Results: Of the study participants, 54.6% were found to have depressive symptoms and 48.1% had severe occupational burnout. Positive correlations were observed between the scores of role stress and burnout and depression. Approximately 37.1% of the variation in depression was explained by the components of occupational burnout.
Conclusions: Emergency nurses experience high levels of role stress, occupational burnout and depression. Preventive approaches to role stress, burnout and depression are needed to improve their psychological condition and quality of work life.
Keywords: Burnout; China; Depression; Emergency department; Emergency nurses; Role stress.
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