Stress Coping Mechanisms and Professional Burnout among Latvian Nurses

Abstract The reason of burnout is the negative influence of job stress. Due to burnout nurses work may become less productive, employees are absent due to illness, as well as the fluctuation of staff increases. It shows the need to develop adaptive coping strategies among nurses. The aim of the study was to find out stress coping mechanisms and burnout presence among nurses practicing in Latvia. The instruments which used for data collection: demographic questionnaire, R.S. Lazarus and S. Folkman's The Ways of Coping Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. The Ways of Coping Scale completed by 484 nurses working in healthcare institutions in different regions of Latvia in the age range from 21 to 66 years. The highest values have: planful problem-solving, self-controlling and positive reappraisal, accepting responsibility and seeking social support; while the lowest values can be seen in two scales – confrontive coping and escape/avoidance. The prevailing ways of coping stress in the sample are planful problem solving, self-controlling and positive reappraisal. Maslach burned out inventory which was completed by 587 practicing nurses. Age range of respondents was from 22 to 68 years. Descriptive statistical parameters for Maslach Burnot Inventory by subscales: mean for Emotional Exhaustion subscale - 22.75 (SD=10.75), for Depersonalization subscale was 7.52 (SD=5.30) and for rank of Personal achievement subscale - 34.57 (SD=8.22).