The role of demographic factors, mindfulness and perceived stress in resilience among nurses: A cross sectional study

Aim To examine the role of demographic factors, mindfulness, and perceived stress on resilience among nurses. Background Resilience is an important attribute in the nursing profession although factors affecting it are very diverse. Knowing these factors may help in enhancing nurses' resilience and their subsequent quality healthcare delivery. Method Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive survey, a convenience sample was recruited to answer questions assessing resilience, perceived stress, and mindfulness in Taiwan between October and November 2021. Independent t-tests, one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and hierarchical regression were used to analyse the data. Results A total of 816 nurses participated in the study. Postgraduate degree nurses had lower perceived stress (p = .006) and higher resilience (p = .003) compared with their college and undergraduate counterparts. Nurses working in internal medicine had significantly higher levels of perceived stress (p = .006) and lower levels of mindfulness (p = .005) compared with those in other departments. Single nurses had significantly higher levels of mindfulness (p = .04) but lower levels of resilience (p = .049) than those who were married. Educational level, perceived stress, and mindfulness were all factors that influenced nurses' resilience. Conclusion Higher educational levels, perceived stress, and mindfulness appear to influence nurses' resilience. Nurses should therefore be encouraged to upgrade themselves academically, attend refresher courses, and learn adaptive coping strategies. Implications for Nursing Management Hospital authorities should help nurses deal with stressful issues and offer career development opportunities to update, upgrade, and enhance their skillsets in the profession.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to examine the role of demographic factors, mindfulness, and perceived stress on resilience among nurses. The results showed that educational level, perceived stress, and mindfulness were all factors that influenced nurses' resilience. Therefore, nurses should be encouraged to upgrade themselves academically, attend refresher courses, and learn adaptive coping strategies.