Sensitivity to Noise, Personality Hardiness, and Noise-Induced Stress in Critical Care Nurses

This research tested the generalizability of the mediating role of stress resistance resources to stressors in the physical environment. One hun-dred hospital critical care unit nurses were surveyed. Results indicated that less sensitivity to noise and greater personality hardiness may act as noise-induced stress resistance resources. When the three dimensions of hardiness (commit-ment, control, and challenge) were analyzed separately via a stepwise multiple regression, commitment was the only variable to uphold this relationship. The latter result is discussed in terms of potentially effective coping strategies in nurses and compatibility within the person-environment relationship.