Anxiety and Its Relationship with Professional Quality of Life and Meaning in Life Among Hospital Nursing Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses in hospital settings frequently experience anxiety, which may adversely affect both their psychological well-being and professional functioning. In this context, Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) and Meaning in Life are recognized as key factors influencing nurses’ mental health outcomes. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the level of anxiety among nursing personnel in hospital settings and to assess its association with ProQoL and Meaning in Life. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample of 200 nursing personnel in a public hospital. Data were collected using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 (ProQoL-5), and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) which also included characteristics of nursing personnel. Results: Anxiety levels were low to mild (39.8 ± 8.7). ProQoL dimensions indicated moderate to high Compassion Satisfaction (35.5 ± 7.3) and moderate levels of Burnout (27.6 ± 5.7) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (26.5 ± 6.1). Regarding Meaning in Life, participants reported high levels of Presence of Meaning (27.1 ± 4.8) and moderate levels of Search for Meaning (21.7 ± 6.7). A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between anxiety and Compassion Satisfaction (r = −0.532, p < 0.001), as well as between anxiety and Presence of Meaning (r = −0.387, p < 0.001). In contrast, anxiety was positively correlated with Burnout (r = 0.652, p < 0.001) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (r = 0.534, p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, the self-rating of daily work experience score was associated with increased anxiety levels by 0.9 units for each unit increase (95% CI: 0.2 to 1.7, p < 0.011). Compassion Satisfaction was associated with a decrease in anxiety by 0.4 units (95% CI: −0.6 to −0.2, p < 0.001), while Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress were associated with an increase in anxiety by 0.5 (95% CI: 0.2 to 0.8, p < 0.001) and 0.4 units (95% CI: 0.2 to 0.6, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Self-rated daily work experience, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress were positively associated with anxiety, whereas Compassion Satisfaction was negatively associated with anxiety. These results illustrate the importance of targeted interventions aimed at reducing anxiety, strengthening ProQoL, and promoting Meaning in Life to support nursing personnel’s well-being.