Predictors of happiness among Iranian nurses

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to assess happiness and its predictors among a group of Iranian hospital nurses. Methods This cross-sectional study was done in 2016 on 620 hospital nurses who worked in five teaching hospitals affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. Nurses were recruited through the census method. Data collection instruments were a researcher-made demographic and occupational characteristics questionnaire, the Oxford Happiness Inventory, and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Data analysis was done through stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Results Among 620 recruited nurses, 422 returned their questionnaires completely filled. The mean of their happiness was 123.4 ± 18.4 in the possible score range of 29–174. The significant predictors of happiness were satisfaction with mental health, monthly salary, satisfaction with salary, quality of life, current hospital ward, the length of working in the current ward, work shift, age, job satisfaction, and satisfaction with physicians' conduct and performance. These variables explained 50.3% of the total variance of happiness. Satisfaction with mental health had the greatest proportion in explaining the variance of happiness. Conclusion Nurses in teaching hospitals in Kashan, Iran, have moderate happiness. Their happiness is affected by different factors, particularly by satisfaction with their mental health. Health policy-makers and authorities, in developing workforce-related plans and programs, need to pay special attention to nurses' happiness and its contributing factors.

Factors associated with the general well‐being of nurses in a tertiary Chinese hospital: A cross‐sectional study

“…Additionally, this study findings of associations of marital status, clinical rank and source of stress with GWB differed from those of Meng et al and Khosrojerdi et al (Khosrojerdi et al, ; Meng, Luo, Liu, Hu, & Yu, ). Meng et al reported that the both negative and positive emotions, satisfaction with life and relationships among nursing colleagues were associated with GWB, and Khosroderdi et al found that satisfaction with mental health, salary, quality of life, ward situation, working hours and behaviours of doctors was associated with GWB (Khosrojerdi et al, ; Meng et al, ). A study by Kahneman et al revealed that a higher monthly income allowed greater family welfare and quality of life, resulting in better work performance due to greater GWB (Kahneman & Deaton, ).…”

“…The nurses in China who participated in this study had lower GWB scores (61.67 ± 18.11 for male nurses and 59.38 ± 14.32 for female nurses) than the general Chinese population (76.30 ± 9.48), whereas Khosrojerdi et al found that nurses in Iran had an average score of 123.4 ± 18.4, which was higher than that of their general population (Khosrojerdi et al, ). Additionally, this study findings of associations of marital status, clinical rank and source of stress with GWB differed from those of Meng et al and Khosrojerdi et al (Khosrojerdi et al, ; Meng, Luo, Liu, Hu, & Yu, ).…”

“…The nurses in China who participated in this study had lower GWB scores (61.67 ± 18.11 for male nurses and 59.38 ± 14.32 for female nurses) than the general Chinese population (76.30 ± 9.48), whereas Khosrojerdi et al found that nurses in Iran had an average score of 123.4 ± 18.4, which was higher than that of their general population (Khosrojerdi et al, ). Additionally, this study findings of associations of marital status, clinical rank and source of stress with GWB differed from those of Meng et al and Khosrojerdi et al (Khosrojerdi et al, ; Meng, Luo, Liu, Hu, & Yu, ). Meng et al reported that the both negative and positive emotions, satisfaction with life and relationships among nursing colleagues were associated with GWB, and Khosroderdi et al found that satisfaction with mental health, salary, quality of life, ward situation, working hours and behaviours of doctors was associated with GWB (Khosrojerdi et al, ; Meng et al, ).…”

“…A study in long‐term care hospitals in South Korea showed that the mean score for general well‐being was 113.78 out of a possible total score of 168 (Hwang, ). A cross‐sectional study on the well‐being of Iranian nurses produced a mean score of 123.4 ± 18.4 out of a possible score range of 29–174 (Khosrojerdi, Tagharrobi, Sooki, & Sharifi, ). However, there have been few large sample studies on the well‐being of Chinese nurses.…”

“…On the other hand, the results of studies investigating the factors contributing to nurses' well‐being are contradictory. For instance, some studies reported significant correlations of well‐being with education level, physical activity (Rjabi‐Gilan, Ghasemi, Reshadat, & Zangeneh, ), work shift, age (Khosrojerdi et al, ), marital status, clinical experience (Hwang, ; Ju, Kwon, & Nam, ) and physical health (Hwang, ; Sheikhmoonesi, Zarghami, Khademloo, & Alimohammadi, ). On the contrary, some studies showed that well‐being had no significant correlations with age, clinical experience (Bagheri, Akbarizadeh, & Hatami, ), gender and marital status (Bagheri et al, ; Rjabi‐Gilan et al, ).…”