The mediating and moderating role of personal strain and coping resource in the relationship between work stressor and quality of life among Chinese nurses

Objective To determine whether personal strain and coping resources act as either mediator or moderator or both in the relationship between work stressor and quality of life among Chinese nurses. Methods A total of 1,012 nurses were selected from eight hospitals located in two provinces in China. Quality of life was measured with the Chinese version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey; work stressor, personal strain, and coping resources were evaluated using the Occupation Stress Inventory-Revised Edition. The hierarchical multiple regression procedure and Baron and Kenny's model of mediation were applied to test for moderation and mediation, respectively. A structural equation model was fit to assess the interrelationships among these variables. Results Work stressor was closely associated with quality of life, which was mediated and moderated by personal strain and coping resources. Personal strain also acted both as moderator and mediator in the relationship between coping resources and quality of life. The relationships were verified in the structural equation model. The greatest absolute value of the standardized total effects was seen in personal strain (0.817), followed by work stressor (0.634) and coping resources (0.488). Conclusions Personal strain and coping resources have both mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between work stress and quality of life in a sample of Chinese nurses. An effective intervention strategy is needed to reduce work stress and ensure better quality of life.