This paper examines the relationship between self-esteem and stress, coping and burnout in mental health nurses (n=568). Self-esteem is said to be one of the most important moderating variables in determining the effects of stress on individuals. The modified Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was administered to nurses in both hospital and community, along with a range of other standardised measures. While there were no significant differences in self- esteem between the two groups of mental health nurses, smokers and drinkers in the sample were found to have significantly lower levels of self- esteem. Equally, nurses who felt happy with their life, were physically fit and who had job security, had higher self-esteem scores. Self-esteem correlated highest with measures of stress. Multiple regression analyses showed that happiness was one of the best predictors of self-esteem. Evidence is also presented on the discriminative validity of the concept of self-esteem. Enhancing nurses' levels of self-esteem may help reduce staff stress levels. Future nursing stress research needs to examine the role of other moderating variables.
Payne, R., Firth-Cozens, J. (eds) Stress in Health Professionals. Chichester: Wiley, 1987.
2.
Sutherland, V., Cooper, C. Understanding Stress : A psychological perspective forhealth professionals . London: Chapman and Hall, 1990.
3.
Carson, J., Fagin, L., Ritter, S. (eds) Stress and Coping in Mental Health Nursing. London: Chapman and Hall, 1995.
4.
Dryden, W. (ed) The Stresses of Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1995.
5.
Baker, R., Dunham, J., Harrison, E. et al. Stress in the Public Sector: Nurses, police, social workers and teachers. London: Health Education Authority,1987.
Foxall, M., Zimmerman, L., Standley, R. et al. A comparison of frequency and sources of nursing job stress perceived by intensive care, hospice and medical surgical nurses. Journal ofAdvanced Nursing1990; 15:577-584.
8.
Hipwell, A., Tyler, P., Wilson, C.Sources of stress and dissatisfaction among nurses in four hospital environments . British Journal of Medical Psychology1989 ; 62: 71-79.
9.
Cronin-Stubbs, D., Brophy, E. Burnout: Can social support save the psychiatric nurse? Journal of Psychosocial Nursing in Mental Health Services1984; 23: 8-13.
10.
Dawkins, J. , Depp, F., Selzer, N.Stress and the psychiatric nurse. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 1985,23: 11,9-15.
11.
Jones, J., Janman, K.Payne, R. et al. Some determinants of stress in psychiatric nurses. International Journal of Nursing Studies1987; 24: 129-144.
12.
Landeweerd, J., Boumans, N.Nurses' work satisfaction and feelings of health and stress in three psychiatric departments. International Journal ofNursingStudies1988; 25: 3, 245-254.
13.
Sullivan, P.Occupational stress in psychiatric nursing. Journal ofAdvancedNursing1993, 18: 591-601.
14.
Whittington, R.Wykes, T.Staff strain and social support in a psychiatric hospital following assault by a patient. Journal o fAdvanced Nursing1992, 17:480-486.
15.
Bennett, R. , Evans, R.Tattersall, A.Stress and coping in social workers: A preliminary investigation. British Journal ofsocial Work1993, 23:31-44.
16.
Cushway, D. , Tyler, R.Stress in dinical psychologists. The Internationa Journal of Social Rychiaty1995, 42:2,141-149.
17.
Deary, I., Agius, R., Sadler, A.Personality and stress in consultant psychiatrists. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry1996; 4:2, 112-123.
18.
Sweeney, G. , Nichols, K., Kline, P.Job stress in occupational therapy: An examination of causative factors. British Journal of Occupational Therapy1993; 56:3.89-93.
19.
Cooper, C., Rout, U., Faragher, B.Mental health, job satisfaction and job stress among general practitioners . British Medicallournal1989; 298: 365-370.
20.
Rees, D., Smith, S.Work stress in occupational therapists assessed by the Occupational Stress Indicator. British Journal of Occupational Therapy1991;54:8,289-294.
21.
Borrill, C. , Wall, T., West, M. et al. MentalHealth of the Workforce in NHS Trusts: Phase 1 Final Report. Sheffield: Institute of Work Psychology1996.
22.
Fagin, L., Bartlett, H. TheClaybury CPN Stress Study: Background and methodology. In: Carson, J. Fagin, L, Ritter , S. (eds) Stress and Coping in Mental Health Nursing. London: Chapman and Hall, 1995.
23.
Fagin, L., Brown, D., Bartlett, H. et al. TheClaybury CPN Stress Study:is it more stressful to work in hospital or the community?Journal of Advanced Nursing1995; 22:1-12.
24.
Trygstad, L.Stress and coping in psychiatric nursing. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing1986;24: 10, 23-27.
25.
Dolan, N.The relationship between burnout and job satisfaction in nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing1987; 12:3-12.
26.
Handy, J.Occupational Stress in a Caring Profession. Aldershot: Avebury, 1990.
27.
Fagin, L., Carson, J., Leary, J. et al. Stress, coping and burnout in mental health nurses: Findings from three research studies. The Intemational Journal of Social Psychia try1996; 42:2, 102-111.
28.
Turner, R., Roszell, R.Psychosocial resources and the stress process. In: Avison, W., Gotlib, (eds) Stress and Mental Health: Contemporary issues andprospects for the future . New York: Plenum, 1994.
29.
Rosenberg, M.Societyand the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1965. 30 Rosenberg, M.Conceiving the Self. Melbourne, Florida: Academic Press, 1986.
30.
Rosenberg, M., Schooler, C., Shoenbach, C. Self-esteem and adolescent problems: Modelling reciprocal effects. American Sociological Review1989; 54:1004-1018.
31.
Pearlin, L., Lieberman, M.Social sources of emotional distress. In: Simmons, R. (ed) Research in Community and Mental Health . Greenwich: JAI Press, 1979.
32.
Brown, D., Leary, J.Findings from the Claybury Study for community psychiatric nurses. In: Carson, J., Fagin, L., Ritter, S. (eds). Stress and Coping in Mental Health Nursing. London: Chapman and Hall, 1995.
33.
Goldberg, D., Williams, P.A User's Guide to the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor : NFER-Nelson, 1988.
34.
Bowling, A.Measuring Disease. Buckingham: Open University Press, 1995.
Schaufeli, W., Enzman, D., Girault, N.Measurement of burnout: A review. In: Schaufeli, W., Maslach, C., Marek, C. (eds). Professional Burnout: Recent developments in theoryand practice. Washington: Taylor and Francis, 1993.
37.
Wycherley, R. TheLiving Skills Pack. Bexhill: South East Thames RegionalHealth Authority1987.
38.
Weiss, D., Dawis, R., England, G. etal. Manual for the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Minnesota, University of Minnesota Industrial Relatiuns Centre, 1967.
39.
Koelbel, P. , Fuller, F., Misener, T.Job satisfaction of nurse practitioners: An analysis using Herzberg's Theory. Nurse Practitioner1991; 16:4, 43-46.
40.
Waite, A., Oliver, N., Carson, J. et al. Mental health nursing: Is community or ward-based nursing more satisfying? Psychiatric Care1996; 2: 5, 167-170.
Kirkcaldy, B., Cooper, C., Brown, J.The role of coping in the stressor-strain relationship among senior police officers. International Journal of Stress Management, 1995; 2:2,69-78.
43.
Broers, P.Evers, A., Cooper, C.Differersces in occupational stress in three European countries. Intemational Journal of Stress Management1995; 2:4,171-180.
44.
Brown, D., Leary, J., Carson, J. et al. Stress and the community mental health nurse: The development of a measure. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing1995, 2:1, 9-12.
45.
Pugliesi, K.Social support and self-esteem and intervening variables in the relationship between social roles and women's well-being . Community Mental Health Journal1989; 25:87-100.
46.
Brugha, T. (ed) Social Support and Psychiatric Disorder: Research findings and guidelines for clinical practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
47.
Kobassa, S. , Puccetti, M.Personality and social resources in stress resistance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology1983; 45: 4, 839-850.
48.
Pearlin, L. , Menaghan, E., Lieberman, M. et al. The stress process. Joumal of Health and Social Behaviour1981; 22: 337-356.
49.
Folkman, S.Personal control and stress and coping processes: Atheoretical analysis. Journal of Personalityand Social Psychology1984; 46: 839-852.
50.
Eysenck, H., Eysenck, S.Manual for the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1975.
51.
Lovallo, W. Stress and Health: Biologicaland psychological Interactions. London: Sage, 1997.
52.
Martin, J.Structural equation modelling: A guide for the perplexed. Child Development1987; 58:33-37.
53.
Hammond, S.Introduction to multivariate data analysis. In: Breakwell, G., Hammond, S., Fife-Schaw, C. (eds) Research Methods in Psychology . London: Sage, 1995.
54.
Carson, J., Bartlett. H., Brown, D.Findings for the qualitative measures for CPNs. In: Carson, J., Fagin, L., Ritter, S. (eds) Stress and Coping in Mental Health Nursing. London: Chapman and Hall, 1995.
55.
Banister, P., Burman, E., Parker, I. et al. Qualitative Methods in Psychology: A research guide. Buckingham: Open University Press, 1994.
56.
McKay, M., Fanning, P.Self-Esteem: A proven program of cognitive techniques ofassessing, improving and maintaining your self-esteem. Oakland: Califomia, New Harbinger Publications, 1992.
