The Reduction of Low Mental Well-Being Through Self-Compassion and Assertiveness:

Caused by Nurses’ Job Stressors Based on Years of Experience

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether self-compassion and assertiveness reduce low mental well-being caused by nurses’ job stressors.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire survey of approximately 1,000 ward nurses at five acute-care hospitals in the North Kanto region was conducted. The survey included the World Health Organization-Five well-being index, the Japanese version of the Self-Compassionate Reactions Inventory, the Japanese version of the Rathus assertiveness schedule, and the Nursing Job Stressor Scale. Binomial logistic regression analysis with mental health as an objective variable was performed by years of nursing experience.

Results: There were 575 valid responses (55.7%). Low self-compassion led to low mental well-being regardless of years of nursing experience. Meanwhile, Low assertiveness and higher level of the job stressor “death and dying” led to low mental well-being in nurses with ≤5 years of experience, whereas higher levels of the job stressor “quantitative work load” led to low mental well-being in nurses with ≥6 years of experience.

Discussion: Different job stressors affecting mental health depend on years of experience. Therefore, the development of self-compassion and assertiveness corresponding to these factors may be effective for improving nurses’ mental health.