The mediating role of spirituality in the relationship between occupational stress and satisfaction with life among nurses.

BACKGROUND

Nurses often face high levels of occupational stress due to demanding workloads, emotional challenges, and the significant responsibilities associated with patient care. This stress negatively impacts their life satisfaction, yet the potential protective role of spirituality in mitigating these effects remains insufficiently explored.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to investigate the mediating role of spirituality in the relationship between occupational stress and life satisfaction among nurses.

METHOD: Data were collected from 502 nurses (291 females, 58%; 211 males, 42%), aged between 21 and 63 years, working in various hospitals across Turkey. Participants completed the Perceived Occupational Stress Scale, the Spirituality Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25 and the PROCESS macro (Model 4).

RESULTS

Correlation analyses revealed a negative and significant relationship between occupational stress and spirituality and life satisfaction, while a positive and significant relationship was found between spirituality and life satisfaction. Mediation analysis indicated that occupational stress negatively predicted both life satisfaction and spirituality, explaining 3% of the variance in life satisfaction. However, spirituality positively predicted life satisfaction and significantly mediated the relationship between occupational stress and life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Spirituality emerges as a crucial resource in mitigating the negative effects of occupational stress on nurses' life satisfaction. Hospital-based programs that promote spiritual well-being, such as positive psychotherapy, mindfulness training, and spiritual counseling, can enhance nurses' stress-coping skills and improve their life satisfaction. Moreover, it is essential for psychiatric nurses to actively support nurses in coping with the intense work stress they experience.