Factors influencing quality of life among married nurses with children in Korea: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing quality of life (QoL) among married nurses with children working in Korea, with a focus on self-determination (SDT), health-promoting lifestyle (HPL), job satisfaction, and parenting stress. Methods: A cross-sectional design was utilized, involving 150 married nurses with children recruited from three general hospitals in Jeonju, Korea. Data were collected between July 30 and November 31, 2023. Variables measured included HPL, SDT, job satisfaction, parenting stress, and QoL. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, the t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean QoL score was 77.67±12.75 on a scale of 26–130, indicating a moderate level. HPL was identified as the strongest positive predictor (β=.49, p<.001), followed by SDT (β=.21, p=.003). Parenting stress showed a significant negative association with QoL (β=–.15, p=.049). Together, these variables explained 52.6% of the variance in QoL (F=16.18, p<.001). Other variables, including job satisfaction, primary caregiver support, spousal support, turnover intention, and having a child with a chronic illness, were not statistically significant in the final model. Conclusion: HPL, SDT, and parenting stress significantly influenced QoL in this population, with HPL being the most influential factor. These findings suggest that interventions targeting health-promoting behaviors and SDT, while reducing parenting stress, may be critical for improving the QoL of married nurses with children working in general hospitals.