Exploring work stress, job satisfaction, and their associated factors among psychiatric nurse practitioners in Taiwan: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the factors associated with work stress and job satisfaction among PNPs in Taiwan. Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit 200 PNPs with over six months of work experience. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Nursing Stress Scale (NSS), and the Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Scale (MNPJSS). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and stepwise regression analysis. Results: A total of 145 valid responses were analyzed ( response rate: 72.5 %). Work stress showed a significant negative correlation with job satisfaction among PNPs (r = −0.438, p < 0.001). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that work stress, team collaboration, monthly salary, and shift duty significantly predicted job satisfaction, jointly explaining 32% of the variance (p < 0.001). Among these predictors, work stress accounted for 19.2% of the variance (R² = 0.192, p < 0.001). The descriptive results showed that PNPs reported low overall work stress (M = 2.76, SD = 0.86), with personal reaction being the most prominent stress dimension. Job satisfaction was moderately positive (M = 4.01, SD = 0.61), with coworker relationships receiving the highest ratings. Conclusions: Work-related stress is an important predictor of job satisfaction among PNPs. Therefore, understanding the factors associated with the job satisfaction is beneficial to both PNPs and medical institutions.