Archive

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Med. Pr. 2004;55(6)

The level of anxiety, depression and aggression in nurses and their life and job satisfaction

Poziom lęku, depresji i agresji u pielęgniarek, a ich satysfakcja z życia i z pracy zawodowej

Joanna Kliszcz, Katarzyna Nowicka-Sauer, Barbara Trzeciak, Agata Sadowska Z Katedry i Zakładu Medycyny Rodzinnej Akademii Medycznej w Gdańsku

Abstract

Background: In professions aimed at helping other people such as nursing, an increased level of anxiety, depression and aggression caused by extremely stressful work environment is always possible. It can be hypothesized that these emotions influence nurses' life and job satisfaction, through its decreasing or increasing. Materials and Methods: In all, 102 nurses, employed in hospitals, outpatient clinics, hospices and old people's homes, were administered three questionnaires: 1) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Modified; 2) the Life Satisfaction Scale; and 3) the Job Satisfaction Scale. The survey was a closing part of the course on psychology carried out under the postgraduate education program. Results: The statistical analysis of the results showed the increased level of anxiety in the youngest group of nurses, whereas the level of depression and aggression ranged from medium to low in the whole sample. The nurses' level of job satisfaction was higher than that oftheir life satisfaction and the differences were statistically significant in each of the three seniority categories. The evaluation of the relationship between life and job satisfaction and anxiety, depression, aggression and job seniority showed: (a) the effect of anxiety and depression, as self-contained factors, on life satisfaction, regardless of job seniority; (b) the effect of aggression interrelated with job seniority on job satisfaction. Conclusions: Anxiety is the major factor affecting life satisfaction; job satisfaction is less prone to the influence of negative emotions than life satisfaction. Bearing in mind a tendency shown by nurses to suppress their emotions as well as their stressful work environment, they should receive psychological support in its broadest sense.

Key words

anxiety, depression, aggression, nurses' life and job satisfaction, negative emotions