Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models.

Background: Investigating the links between individual perceived stress, social connection, and work involvement plays a crucial role in enhancing the psychological health and overall well-being of clinical nurses, as well as elevating the quality of nursing care in clinical settings. This study incorporates the concepts of social connection and work engagement. By considering the potential heterogeneity of variables and applying a mediation model, we identified the influence pathways through which subgroups of perceived stress affect social connection and work engagement. This study offers a valuable reference for understanding the nurses' perceived stress profiles and improving their mental health.

Method: The research employed a cross-sectional study methodology. To select 600 clinical nurses from 3 hospitals in Guangzhou, a convenience sampling technique was implemented. Participants' general demographics, levels of work engagement, perceived stress, and social connections were gathered through questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing latent profile examination, mediation analysis and generalized additive models.

Results: (1) The analysis revealed heterogeneity in stress levels among nurses, resulting in the identification of three distinct groups: low stress-high self-demand group (23.4%), high tension-low out-of-control group (57.5%), and high stress-low efficiency group (18.2%). (2) Clinical registered nurses that obtained support from their families were more inclined to be placed in the Low stress-high self-demand group. (3) Social connection significantly mediated the relationship between nurses' work engagement and perceived stress. (4) Work engagement demonstrated a non-linear relationship with both perceived stress and social connection.

Conclusion: The social connections and work engagement of clinical nurses were notably affected by the stress on an individual. Nursing leaders should promptly identify the stress patterns of nurses, implement appropriate stress management strategies, enhance group cohesion through social networks, and promote the nurses' mental health and occupational well-being, which in turn can decrease nurse turnover rates and enhance the quality of clinical nursing care.

Clinical Trial Number: Not applicable.