Factors associated with family cohesion and adaptability among Chinese registered nurses

Aim To identify determinants of family cohesion and adaptability among Chinese registered nurses. Background In China, the shortage of registered nurses imposes a higher physical and emotional workload, which will aggravate their work-family conflicts. Therefore, it is easy for nurses to ignore the importance of family, which is undeniably detrimental to healthy self-development and providing better care to patients. Design With a cross-sectional and observational study design (see the STROBE checklist and Supplementary File 1). Methods The Family Cohesion and Adaptability Scale was administered to registered nurses (N = 825) from 10 hospitals throughout China. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the related factors for family cohesion and adaptability. Results The multiple regression analysis revealed that inharmonious relationship with spouse's parents, discordant nurse-patient relationship, parents live in countryside, and poor leadership was found to be important risk predictors of family cohesion, and inharmonious relationship with spouse's parents, discordant nurse-patient relationship, high education, feel overworked and poor leadership was found to be important risk predictors of family adaptability. Conclusion Hospital managers need to pay attention to the risk factors that affect nurses' family cohesion and adaptability. To achieve this, they should employ targeted measures to enhance these aspects in time, which will help improve nurses' family life and promote their participation and role in family decision-making. This will not only help them create a better external environment for their healthy self-development but also allow them to maintain a better mood and energy to take care of patients. Relevance to clinical practice Family cohesion and adaptability are important for nurses, as they may affect nurses' healthy self-development and quality of service provided to patients. Hospital managers should pay attention to the risk factors of nurses' family cohesion and adaptability, such as poor nurse-patient relationship, and consider employing corresponding measures to help them.

Automated summary

Family cohesion and adaptability among Chinese registered nurses are influenced by factors such as family relationships and work environments. Hospital managers need to pay attention to risk factors and take measures to enhance nurses' family cohesion and adaptability.