Profiles of Work Immersion among Chinese nurses and their relationships with Job Demands-Resources, Practice Environment, and Perceived Professional Benefits: A latent profile analysis

Work immersion is a positive psychological state characterised by work focus, work enjoyment, and high intrinsic work motivation. It is particularly important for nurses, who often work in demanding and complex clinical environments. The current shortage of nursing staff has further increased nurses’ workloads. These pressures may contribute to emotional exhaustion, lower work immersion, and a stronger intention to leave. This study aimed to characterise the latent profiles of work-related flow among nurses in tertiary general hospitals in China, examine the dimensional characteristics of each profile, and explore the effects of individual and work-related factors on nurses’ work immersion. A person-centred, cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November 2024. A total of 564 nurses were recruited from four tertiary general hospitals in Shandong Province, China. Participants completed a questionnaire that collected sociodemographic and work-related information. The survey also included the Work Immersion Scale, the Chinese version of the Practice Environment Scale, the Nurses’ Professional Perceived Benefits Scale, and the Job Demands-Resources Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct patterns of work immersion. Univariate analyses and three-step approach (R3STEP)multivariable regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with profile membership. Four distinct work immersion profiles were identified: a “high work immersion” profile (11.17%, n = 63), a “high focus and work enjoyment–relatively lower intrinsic work motivation” profile (43.09%, n = 243), an “relatively higher focus–low work enjoyment and intrinsic work motivation” profile (30.67%, n = 173), and a “low work immersion” profile (15.07%, n = 85). Profile membership was significantly associated with gender, years of nursing experience, education level, marital status, monthly income, departmental work satisfaction, salary satisfaction, family support availability, practice environment, job demands, job resources, and perceived professional benefits (all p < 0.05). Work immersion varied considerably among nurses and was influenced by several individual, family, and work-related factors. Nursing managers should identify the needs of nurses in different work immersion profiles and provide targeted interventions.