Effects of perceived job social support on emotions experienced by nurses: the role of difficulties with patient care

Abstract

The focus of the presented research is the emotional state of nurses. It was considered in the context of difficulties with patient care that nurses come across in their daily professional work and in the context of social support perceived by them as available in their working environment. This research examines both promotive and protective effects of perceived job social support on the emotional state of nurses. The postulated intervening variable was difficulties with patient care experienced by nurses. The cross-sectional research group consisted of 100 nurses, 94% women, 50% working in hospitals and 50% in other health-care facilities, predominantly public (87%). Perceived social support at work and positive and negative emotions were measured with existing questionnaires (SSS-8 by Cieslak and POMS by McNair et al.). The difficulties with patient care were determined using an original tool developed by the researchers specially for this study (including six types of difficulties). To verify hypotheses, multiple regression analyses and a bootstrap approach was adopted. First, promotive effect of social support was confirmed in cases of practical and emotional support from Superiors. Second, perceived social support indirectly influenced nurses’ negative emotions in the following way: practical social support from Doctors, Other Nurses and Team Members, intensified difficulties with patient care resulting from demand for information by patient and family that in turn increased negative emotions (protective effect was negative). The research provides valuable results for professional practice.