Risk Factors Associated with Psychological Health and Workload among Clinical Nurses

Abstract

Background: Nurses are exposed to various occupational stressors that can negatively impact their psychological health and well‑being. This cross‑sectional study aimed to identify individual and occupational risk factors associated with psychological health and workload among Iranian clinical nurses. Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted on 131 nurses at a teaching and training hospital in Semnan, Iran, from April to October 2020. Data were collected through self‑reported questionnaires assessing psychological health, mental health exhaustion, workload levels, and demographic information. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s correlation were used to analyze the data. Results: Approximately half of the participants reported moderate symptoms of psychological health problems. Higher rates of psychological health issues were observed in emergency, gynecology, and internal medicine units. Younger nurses and those with less experience were more likely to report negative feelings toward their job. Extended working hours (12 hours) were associated with increased workload. Significant positive correlations were found between sub‑dimensions of psychological health and workload. Conclusions: The findings suggest that work environment stressors, such as extended working hours and heavy workloads, are associated with job dissatisfaction and exhaustion among clinical nurses. To improve the psychological health and job satisfaction of nurses, it is essential to implement organizational strategies such as reducing overtime work and providing flexible work schedules, particularly for experienced nurses.