Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models
Abstract 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 s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03754-x |
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| author | Yuan Liao Miaochun Huang Zhimin Gu Chun Li Yan Yu Qimei Zhang Xiangyu Lai Jialin Liu Kang He Huiyun Chu Yao Zhao Xinyu Wu Lihua Wu Yu Li Sujuan Fang |
| author_facet | Yuan Liao Miaochun Huang Zhimin Gu Chun Li Yan Yu Qimei Zhang Xiangyu Lai Jialin Liu Kang He Huiyun Chu Yao Zhao Xinyu Wu Lihua Wu Yu Li Sujuan Fang |
| author_sort | Yuan Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b19eb60a34dc4f8ba923ee53c9a3620d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-b19eb60a34dc4f8ba923ee53c9a3620d2025-08-24T11:16:12ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-08-0124111410.1186/s12912-025-03754-xAssociations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive modelsYuan Liao0Miaochun Huang1Zhimin Gu2Chun Li3Yan Yu4Qimei Zhang5Xiangyu Lai6Jialin Liu7Kang He8Huiyun Chu9Yao Zhao10Xinyu Wu11Lihua Wu12Yu Li13Sujuan Fang14Academic Affairs Office, Guangzhou Universtiy of Chinese MedicineThe Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineAcademic Affairs Office, Guangzhou Universtiy of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03754-xClinical registered nursesWork engagementPerceived stressSocial connectionLatent profile analysisGeneralized additive models |
| spellingShingle | Yuan Liao Miaochun Huang Zhimin Gu Chun Li Yan Yu Qimei Zhang Xiangyu Lai Jialin Liu Kang He Huiyun Chu Yao Zhao Xinyu Wu Lihua Wu Yu Li Sujuan Fang Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models BMC Nursing Clinical registered nurses Work engagement Perceived stress Social connection Latent profile analysis Generalized additive models |
| title | Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models |
| title_full | Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models |
| title_fullStr | Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models |
| title_short | Associations between perceived stress profiles, social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses: a mediation analysis and generalized additive models |
| title_sort | associations between perceived stress profiles social connection and work engagement in clinical registered nurses a mediation analysis and generalized additive models |
| topic | Clinical registered nurses Work engagement Perceived stress Social connection Latent profile analysis Generalized additive models |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03754-x |
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