Factors Affecting Professional Self-Concept among Psychiatric Nurses in South Korea

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate factors affecting ego-resilience, emotional labor, and job satisfaction and their relationship with professional self-concept among psychiatric nurses.
 Methods: The study was conducted among nurses working in four psychiatric wards: Sung Eun Medical Foundation Reference Hospital (Medical Corporation) in Jeongeup City, Korea; Dasarang Hospital in Gwangju, Korea; Saemirae Hospital in Gwangju (metropolitan city), Korea; and Jangseong Hospital in Jangseong-eup City, Korea. All nurses fully understood the purpose of the study and voluntarily agreed to participate. From August 14 to September 24, 2020, direct survey data were collected by a researcher using a structured questionnaire. Of the 136 questionnaires retrieved, 129 were used for analysis, while 7 were excluded due to incomplete or missing responses.
 Results: Significantly different effects on professional self-concept were noted for the following general characteristics: age (P<0.001), religion (P=0.024), duration of nursing career (P=0.041), position (P=0.021), salary (P=0.016), nursing job satisfaction (P=0.022), and psychiatric nursing job satisfaction (P=0.010). Moreover, professional self-concept was correlated with ego-resilience (r=0.62, P<0.001) and job satisfaction (r=0.41, P<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, factors affecting professional self-concept included no religious preference (β=0.25, P<0.001), employment as a charge nurse (β=-0.20, P=0.034), and ego-resilience (β=0.58, P<0.001). The explanatory power was 42.1%.
 Conclusion: Ego-resilience is the factor most strongly influencing professional self-concept. Furthermore, professional self-concept was stronger among those without religious preferences and those who held senior positions (charge nurse).

Nurses’ perspectives on professional self-concept and its influencing factors: A qualitative study

“…Regarding personal factors, we found that nurses’ mindsets and psychological qualities are a more significant part of the process of their professional self-concept development and career promotion. This was consistent with the findings of previous research [ 5 , 7 , 32 ]. According to Madrid et al, individuals’ positive or negative emotions at work may affect their self-perceptions and job satisfaction [ 36 ].…”

“…Studies have shown that nurses' professional self-concept is closely related to their mental health and that nurses with higher self-concept tend to maintain good job flexibility and strive to overcome difficulties encountered at work; therefore, they experience higher job satisfaction, motivation and retention intention [5][6][7]. Goliroshan et al found that professional self-concept could significantly predict burnout among clinical nurses [8].…”

Emotional labor and job satisfaction among nurses: The mediating effect of nurse–patient relationship

“…Maybe a natural and real excitement in the nurse of this department can be very effective in the formation of the relationship and on the other hand positive feedback from the environment and bring higher job satisfaction ( Carter et al, 2014 ; Mirzaei et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, for a nurse who works in the psychiatric department of a hospital and is faced with an exaggerated flow of extreme positive and negative emotions of patients every day, SA may be a more suitable emotional reaction and bring more job satisfaction ( Cramer et al, 2020 ; Young and Hee, 2022 ).…”

“…This study has made significant contributions in several aspects. First, although a large number of studies have reported the relationship between EL and job satisfaction ( Back et al, 2017 ; Wu et al, 2018 ; Young and Hee, 2022 ), the mechanism of how EL affects job satisfaction has not been fully explored, especially in nursing. This study indicated that the relationship between nurses’ EL and job satisfaction could be explained by the nurse–patient relationship, especially the nurse–patient trust.…”