A Comparative Study of Perceived Stress and Quality of Life of Nurses Working at Psychiatry and Non-psychiatry Departments

Research into stress among health care professionals has tended to neglect staff employed in psychiatric settings. This study compares nurses working in psychiatry department with nurses working in other departments on variables, namely, perceived stress and subjective quality of life. To compare the socio-demographic variables, level of perceived stress and subjective quality of life among nurses working at psychiatry department and those working at other departments of the hospital. This was a cross-sectional comparative study carried out on a sample of 60 nurses; 30 of whom working at Psychiatric centres of Jodhpur and Jaipur and rest 30 nurses working at other departments of M.D.M. Hospital, Jodhpur. Three questionnaires were applied: a semi-structured socio-demographic proforma, perceived stress scale and subjective well being inventory. In our study, no significant difference was found between the two groups of nurses for perceived stress and well being. Pearson's correlational analysis suggested strong negative correlation between perceived stress scale scores and subjective well being scores. The study found that there was no significant difference between nurses from psychiatry ward and those from other departmental wards of the hospital for the variables perceived stress and subjective well being. Multiple intervening variables may be responsible for above finding. However, it is concluded that higher levels of stress may adversely affect nurses' subjective well being.