Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
197,768 studies31 sourcesUpdated 12 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Psychiatry

Depressive symptoms and occupational correlates among psychiatric nurses in northern Jiangsu: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study

  • Yan Han1
  • Jie He2
  • Qian Wang3
  • Yan Tang2
  1. 1Department of Nursing, Huai’an No.3 People’s Hospital, Huaian Second Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University
  2. 2Department of Bipolar Disorders, Huai’an No.3 People’s Hospital, Huaian Second Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University
  3. 3Department of Intensive Psychiatry, Huai’an No.3 People’s Hospital, Huaian Second Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Background: Psychiatric nurses manage aggression, interrupted recovery and emotionally demanding care. Surveys quantify distress but rarely show how these experiences accumulate during routine work.

Aim: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of a positive depressive-symptom screen among psychiatric nurses and to quantify its associations with four prespecified occupational exposures: workplace violence, night-shift burden, occupational strain and psychological resilience. A longitudinal qualitative phase then examined how nurses experienced these same exposures during routine work.

Methods: Four tertiary public psychiatric hospitals in northern Jiangsu participated from January 2025 to March 2026. A convenience sample of 357 nurses completed the survey. Workplace violence during the preceding 12 months was assessed with Wang’s Workplace Violence Scale; at least one physical, verbal or psychological, or sexual incident perpetrated by a psychiatric inpatient or visiting family member defined exposure. Modified Poisson regression with hospital fixed effects estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for an SDS-positive screen. A purposive subsample of 20 nurses completed interviews, diaries and observation over three months. Colaizzi’s method and a joint display supported qualitative analysis and integration.

Results: Of 357 nurses, 138 (38.7%) screened positive. Nurses reporting violence had a higher screening prevalence (PR 1.65, 95% CI 1.31–2.08). PRs per SD were 1.48 (95% CI 1.33–1.66) for night-shift burden and 1.45 (95% CI 1.28–1.65) for occupational strain. Resilience showed the opposite pattern (PR 0.79 per SD, 95% CI 0.70–0.88). Qualitative accounts centered on repeated strain, a value–recognition mismatch, unequal recovery resources and support considered generic or poorly timed.

Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were common. Nurses identified practical targets: safer work organization, rapid post-incident contact and support tailored to individual circumstances. Cross-sectional estimates do not establish diagnosis or causation.

Related

  1. Frequency and correlates of inaccurate psychiatric diagnoses in 401 adults hospitalized for major depressive disorder: a comparison of clinical versus research interview-based diagnoses
    Viktor Benjamin Nöhles, Till Julius Adam, Felix Bermpohl +26
    CNS SpectrumsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPharmacology & toxicologyPMC
  2. Perceived factors influencing healthcare professionals’ adherence to the ABCDE approach: an exploratory explanatory sequential mixed-methods study
    Marjolein Linders, Nino H.C. Schoeber, Mathijs Binkhorst +3
    Resuscitation plusPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  3. Knowledge, perceptions, and associated factors of marburg virus disease in selected towns and districts of the South Ethiopia Region: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study
    Tamirat Gezahegn Guyo, Temesgen Mohammed Toma, Derese Legesse Kebede +4
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Infectious diseaseCrossref
  4. Understanding Black Women’s Lived Experiences of Medical Mistrust and Trust in the Reproductive Care Setting: a nested sequential explanatory mixed methods study
    Karen Awura-Adjoa Ronke Coker, Tyler S. Nesbit, Larry Forthun +6
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Epidemiology & public healthCrossref
  5. Community Health Nurses’ Perceptions of Emerging Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on Nursing Practice: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study
    Mary Henderson Betkus, Davina Banner, Leanne M. Currie +2
    The Canadian Journal of Nursing ResearchPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Full textEpidemiology & public healthPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{han2026depressive,
  title = {{Depressive symptoms and occupational correlates among psychiatric nurses in northern Jiangsu: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study}},
  author = {Yan Han and Jie He and Qian Wang and Yan Tang},
  journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1967611},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1967611/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Depressive symptoms and occupational correlates among psychiatric nurses in northern Jiangsu: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study
AU  - Yan Han
AU  - Jie He
AU  - Qian Wang
AU  - Yan Tang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO  - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1967611
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1967611/full
AB  - Background: Psychiatric nurses manage aggression, interrupted recovery and emotionally demanding care. Surveys quantify distress but rarely show how these experiences accumulate during routine work.  Aim: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of a positive depressive-symptom screen among psychiatric nurses and to quantify its associations with four prespecified occupational exposures: workplace violence, night-shift burden, occupational strain and psychological resilience. A longitudinal qualitative phase then examined how nurses experienced these same exposures during routine work.  Methods: Four tertiary public psychiatric hospitals in northern Jiangsu participated from January 2025 to March 2026. A convenience sample of 357 nurses completed the survey. Workplace violence during the preceding 12 months was assessed with Wang’s Workplace Violence Scale; at least one physical, verbal or psychological, or sexual incident perpetrated by a psychiatric inpatient or visiting family member defined exposure. Modified Poisson regression with hospital fixed effects estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for an SDS-positive screen. A purposive subsample of 20 nurses completed interviews, diaries and observation over three months. Colaizzi’s method and a joint display supported qualitative analysis and integration.  Results: Of 357 nurses, 138 (38.7%) screened positive. Nurses reporting violence had a higher screening prevalence (PR 1.65, 95% CI 1.31–2.08). PRs per SD were 1.48 (95% CI 1.33–1.66) for night-shift burden and 1.45 (95% CI 1.28–1.65) for occupational strain. Resilience showed the opposite pattern (PR 0.79 per SD, 95% CI 0.70–0.88). Qualitative accounts centered on repeated strain, a value–recognition mismatch, unequal recovery resources and support considered generic or poorly timed.  Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were common. Nurses identified practical targets: safer work organization, rapid post-incident contact and support tailored to individual circumstances. Cross-sectional estimates do not establish diagnosis or causation.
SN  - 1664-0640
ER  -