Relationships among Stress, Positive Affectivity, and Work Engagement among Registered Nurses

Work stress is intrinsic to nursing. It negatively affects nurses’ health and well-being. Nurses, who are under stress, often report job dissatisfaction, intention to quit their job, burn out, and physical complaints. This study aimed to identify sources of work stressors among registered nurses and examine the interrelationships among stress, positive affectivity, and work engagement. A descriptive-correlational research design was conducted. A sample of 195 full-time nurses was recruited from a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires and then analyzed using descriptive statistics and path analyses. Work stressors experienced by most nurses were workload, time pressure, inadequate reward, inadequate patient interaction, and unmanageable emotional demands of job. Positive affectivity had a significant negative relationship with stress in the past month but had a significant positive relationship with three components of work engagement. Worksite interventions may be developed to help nurses manage stress. Particularly, workshops enhancing positive affectivity and work engagement could be offered in health care facilities.