Mental health, job satisfaction, and quality of life among psychiatric nurses in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Aim: To survey the mental health symptoms, job satisfaction, and quality of life of psychiatric nurses working at psychiatric hospitals in China in the early stage of the pandemic, and to examine their associated factors. Methods: We conducted a national survey in 41 tertiary psychiatric hospitals. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-Chinese version (DASS-C21), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Chinese version (WHOQOL-BREF-CHN) were used to assess participants’ mental health, job satisfaction, and quality of life, respectively. The study was reported in accordance with STROBE guidelines. Results: In total, 9193 nurses completed the survey, the sample was predominantly female (79.2%). The overall prevalence of reported depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms was 27.5%, 30.8%, and 14.4%, respectively. The general job satisfaction level of all participants was about 76.8%. The quality of life and general health status were about 22.3% and 23.2%, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the experience of frontline work and negative attitudes toward COVID-19 were positively associated with mental health symptoms and negatively associated with job satisfaction and quality of life (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health symptoms were common among psychiatric nurses in China. Having worked in the frontline and the perceived negative impact of COVID-19 may contribute to mental health symptoms, as well as poor quality of life. Targeted strategies focusing on ameliorating risk factors may be needed to provide better intervention.