Association of Job Stress with Health-promoting Behaviors and Health Status in Clinical Nurses

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined association of job stress with health-promoting behaviors and objective health status in 129 clinical nurses working at a university hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used. Job stress and health behaviors were measured with Korean Occupational Stress Scale and Heath Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II, respectively. Health status measured with afternoon plasma cortisol, C-peptide, and lipid profiles. Results: The level of job stress among clinical nurses was moderate with 51.41 on average. The mean for health-promoting behavior in the low stress group was significantly higher than that in the high or moderate stress groups (p<.001). The proportions of nurses with high C-peptide and cortisol levels, or low high-density lipoprotein levels, ranged from 14.0% to 35.7%. In particular, the percentage of nurses with high C-peptide levels was significantly higher in moderate and high stress groups than in the low stress group (24.1% versus 11.6%, p<.05). Conclusion: The study findings affirmed the associations of job stress with health-promoting behaviors as well as selected health status indicators such as C-peptide in clinical nurses. Job stress management intervention can help clinical nurses to improve their health-promoting behaviors and health status.