Factors Related to Self-Esteem among Psychiatric Nurses: Including Experience of Developing Negative Feelings Toward Patients

Abstract

Objectives: This study determines factors related to self-esteem, including experience of developing negative feelings toward patients, as reported by psychiatric nurses and examines ways to assist the nurses.

Method: A self-administered questionnaire survey was distributed to 737 nurses working in nine non-public psychiatric hospitals. We received 365 valid responses (49.5%). The questionnaire included questions about “demographics”, “working environment factors”, “mental health” and Japanese edition (Yamamoto et al, 1982) of “Self-Esteem Scale” by Rosenberg (1965). Using the total score of a self-esteem scale as the dependent variable, a multiple regression analysis was conducted.

Results: The multiple regression analysis showed that the adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.44. Factors that showed statistically significant correlations are “high environmental mastery”, “dislike for the experience of negative feelings toward patients”, “respondent being married”, “presently assistant head nurse”, “coping behavior by discussing with relevant persons when having concerns at the workplace”, and “respondents who had been working longest in surgery wards”.

Conclusions: The findings suggest the importance of providing the following support: (a) to prevent developing excessive feeling of dislike when experiencing negative feelings toward patients, (b) to help acquire skills and understanding to know how to assist patients as a means to control the human and physical environments including psychiatric nurses themselves, and (c) to develop coping strategies for communication with those involved when encountering negative events at the workplace.