AUTHOR=Zhang Shu-e , Yang Li-bin , Zhao Chen-xi , Shi Yu , Wang Hong-ni , Zhao Xin , Wang Xiao-he , Sun Tao , Cao De-pin 

TITLE=Contribution of Character Strengths to Psychology Stress, Sleep Quality, and Subjective Health Status in a Sample of Chinese Nurses

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631459

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631459

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> The main objectives of this study were to describe the current state of character strengths (CSs) of nurses; explain how they affect stress, sleep quality, and subjective health status; and reveal the mediating role of stress for the subject matter on the association between CSs, sleep quality, and subjective health status.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from September to October 2020 in China. A multistage stratified sampling method was used, and 1,221 valid questionnaires across 100 cities in 31 provinces were collected.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> For the participants in this survey, the three dimensions of CSs ranging from high to low were caring (4.20 ± 0.640), self-control (3.53 ± 0.763), and inquisitiveness (3.37 ± 0.787). There was difference in CSs scores across age (<italic>F</italic> = 8.171, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01), professional categories (<italic>F</italic> = 5.545, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01), and job tenure (<italic>F</italic> = 9.470, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01). The results showed that CSs significantly affected the psychological stress (β = −0.365, <italic>P</italic>&lt; <italic>0.01</italic>), sleep quality (β = 0.312, <italic>P</italic>&lt; <italic>0.01</italic>), and subjective health (β = 0.398, <italic>P</italic>&lt; <italic>0.01</italic>) of nurses. Moreover, psychological stress partially mediated the association between CSs and both types of health outcomes.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> In China, the CSs of nurses are at high levels. We find that nurses with high-level CSs are likely to experience less psychological stress and exhibit healthy psycho–physiological responses, which contribute to positive health outcomes. Finally, our study argues that strength-based interventions of positive psychology in hospitals should be provided to minimize threats to the physical and psychological health of health professionals, which is a beneficial choice for future hospital reforms in the domain of occupational health management.</p>