Factors influencing decent work among psychiatric nurses in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims This study aimed to investigate the current status of decent work among psychiatric nurses and analyze its influencing factors. Methods In February 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a cluster sample of 358 nurses from a tertiary Grade A psychiatric hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Data were collected using a custom-made nurse demographic scale to gather demographic information. The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERIQ) was used to assess the imbalance between effort and reward through the effort-reward ratio (ERR). The Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) measured subjective support, objective support, and support utilization. The Decent Work Perception Scale (DWPS) was used to evaluate nurses’ perceptions of decent work. T-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses were employed for data analysis. Results The study found that the correlation between decent work and social support was positive ( r = 0.360, p < 0.001), while it was negative for effort-reward imbalance ( r = -0.584, p < 0.001). Factors influencing perceptions of decent work included years of work experience (β = -0.164, p = 0.046 for < 5 years; β = -0.157, p = 0.040 for > 25 years), social support (β = 0.259, p < 0.001), and the effort-reward imbalance (β=-0.458, p < 0.001). These factors collectively explained 40.2% of the variance in perceptions of decent work. Furthermore, social support plays a mediating role between effort-reward imbalance and decent work (β=-0.062, Bootstrap 95% CI: -0.107, -0.023). Conclusion The findings suggest that years of work experience, social support, and the effort-reward imbalance are factors influencing decent work among psychiatric nurses. By offering career development opportunities, fostering supportive work environments, and ensuring fair compensation, we can empower psychiatric nurses to navigate job challenges effectively and sustain a sense of decency in their work. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-024-05983-x.