Mediating Effect of Social Support on the Relationship between Occupational Stress during the COVID-19-Related Respiratory Disease Pandemic and Professional Quality of Life of Clinical Nurses: A Descriptive Study

Purpose: To identify the relationship between COVID-19 related respiratory disease occupational stress and professional quality of life among clinical nurses and investigate the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between occupational stress and professional quality of life.Methods: Data were collected from 135 nurses who had experience caring for patients with COVID-19 related respiratory disease in a general hospital with 300 or more beds from December 26, 2021 to January 30, 2022. Hayes' PROCESS macro(version 3.5) was used to test the significance of the indirect effects of the parameters.Results: Occupational stress had a significant negative effect on professional quality of life (empathy satisfaction; β=-.75, p<.001), and the mediator social support had a significant positive effect on professional quality of life (empathy satisfaction; β=.19, p=.010). Occupational stress had a significant positive effect on professional quality of life (burnout; β=.40, p=.005) and the mediator social support had a significant negative effect on professional quality of life (burnout; β=-.28, p<.001). Occupational stress had no significant effect on professional quality of life (secondary traumatic stress; β=.21, p=.219), and the mediator social support had a significant negative effect on professional quality of life (secondary traumatic stress; β=-.27, p<.001).Conclusion: To reduce occupational stress associated with COVID-19 related respiratory disease and improve the professional quality of life among clinical nurses, administrative backing of active social support is needed. In addition, psychological counseling programs should be provided regularly, and systematic infectious disease management education programs should be established.