Abstract

Stress is an inevitable part of life that individuals face. Stress occurs when stressful events, whether personal, environmental, or social, affect an individual's ability to cope and threaten the breakdown of their psychological and physical systems. Stress can create difficulties and obstacles that may exceed an individual's ability to tolerate and deal with them, causing them stress and having negative effects on their psychological and physical health. The current study aimed to identify the negative effects of psychological stress on the psychological and physical health of individuals through the literature that has addressed this topic. The results of the study showed that among the negative effects of stress on psychological health are the deterioration of individuals' self-concept, feelings of frustration, poor adjustment, and the appearance of symptoms of various psychological disorders. The negative effects of stress on the physical health of individuals are represented by the weakening of the immune system and the occurrence of various infections, as well as the occurrence of high blood pressure, heart and vascular diseases, diabetes, digestive system diseases, and skin diseases. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the coping strategies employed by nurses working in psychiatric wards at a Saudi hospital in the eastern province. Additionally, the study aimed to explore potential relationships between the levels of coping and various demographic characteristics among these nurses. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted over a period spanning from September 14th to December 18th, 2022. The study sample consisted of 90 nurses who were purposefully selected from psychiatric wards at a Saudi hospital in the eastern province. To achieve the study's objectives, the researchers utilized the Brief COPE inventory, a modified version developed by Carver (1997), which comprises 28 items categorized into 14 domains. Conclusion: The study's findings revealed a noteworthy relationship between active coping strategies, reduced job stress, and increased support, which was associated with decreased job stress among nurses. In essence, the data indicates that enhancing active coping can lead to a decrease in job-related stress among nurses. Recommendations: Considering the study's findings, it is recommended that nurses working in psychiatric wards should undergo specialized training sessions aimed at improving their coping skills and stress management. Moreover, there should be clear professional guidelines and criteria governing the relationships between nurses and other healthcare team members in these specific work settings. These measures can contribute to a more supportive and harmonious work environment for nurses in psychiatric wards.

Description