The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity

Abstract Purpose To explore the influence of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress and to further explore whether professional identity can mediate in this process. Methods From July to September 2023, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses in six public tertiary hospita...

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Main Authors: Zhen Luo, Tingting Liu, Daying Wang, Nana Qi, Jiyin Zhang, Li Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02865-9
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author Zhen Luo
Tingting Liu
Daying Wang
Nana Qi
Jiyin Zhang
Li Tian
author_facet Zhen Luo
Tingting Liu
Daying Wang
Nana Qi
Jiyin Zhang
Li Tian
author_sort Zhen Luo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose To explore the influence of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress and to further explore whether professional identity can mediate in this process. Methods From July to September 2023, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses in six public tertiary hospitals in Suzhou and Wuxi, China, including demographic information, Adversity Response Profile (ARP), The Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (PIS) and Stress Overload Scale (SOS). Analyzed the collected data using correlation, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling. Results 1,578 nurses completed the questionnaires, resulting in 1,468 valid questionnaires. The average score of Stress Overload Scale of the surveyed nurses was 65.26 ± 17.93 points (Total score of Stress Overload Scale: 110). The correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between nurses’ adversity quotient and their professional identity (r = 0.59, P < 0.01); professional identity and work stress were negatively correlated (r=-0.44, P < 0.01); and adversity quotient was also negatively correlated with work stress (r=-0.31, P < 0.01). The structural equation model indicated that professional identity might mediate between stress and adversity quotient. Conclusion Clinical nurses suffer from heavy work stress, and nurses’ adversity quotient could change their work stress level by affecting their professional identity. Strategies and measures to improve professional identity is expected to buffer the impact of adversity quotient on nurses’ work stress.
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spelling doaj-art-8bfd5d7f01b14866874d7fe5bbc1d1d12025-08-20T03:04:27ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-02-0124111010.1186/s12912-025-02865-9The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identityZhen Luo0Tingting Liu1Daying Wang2Nana Qi3Jiyin Zhang4Li Tian5The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySchool of Nursing, Soochow UniversityWuxi Yihe Obstetrics & Gynecology HospitalWuxi Yihe Obstetrics & Gynecology HospitalThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityAbstract Purpose To explore the influence of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress and to further explore whether professional identity can mediate in this process. Methods From July to September 2023, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses in six public tertiary hospitals in Suzhou and Wuxi, China, including demographic information, Adversity Response Profile (ARP), The Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (PIS) and Stress Overload Scale (SOS). Analyzed the collected data using correlation, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling. Results 1,578 nurses completed the questionnaires, resulting in 1,468 valid questionnaires. The average score of Stress Overload Scale of the surveyed nurses was 65.26 ± 17.93 points (Total score of Stress Overload Scale: 110). The correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between nurses’ adversity quotient and their professional identity (r = 0.59, P < 0.01); professional identity and work stress were negatively correlated (r=-0.44, P < 0.01); and adversity quotient was also negatively correlated with work stress (r=-0.31, P < 0.01). The structural equation model indicated that professional identity might mediate between stress and adversity quotient. Conclusion Clinical nurses suffer from heavy work stress, and nurses’ adversity quotient could change their work stress level by affecting their professional identity. Strategies and measures to improve professional identity is expected to buffer the impact of adversity quotient on nurses’ work stress.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02865-9NurseAdversity quotientProfessional identityWork stressMediating effect
spellingShingle Zhen Luo
Tingting Liu
Daying Wang
Nana Qi
Jiyin Zhang
Li Tian
The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity
BMC Nursing
Nurse
Adversity quotient
Professional identity
Work stress
Mediating effect
title The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity
title_full The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity
title_fullStr The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity
title_full_unstemmed The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity
title_short The impact of nurses’ adversity quotient on their work stress: the mediating role of professional identity
title_sort impact of nurses adversity quotient on their work stress the mediating role of professional identity
topic Nurse
Adversity quotient
Professional identity
Work stress
Mediating effect
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02865-9
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