Contribution of Character Strengths to Psychology Stress, Sleep Quality, and Subjective Health Status in a Sample of Chinese Nurses

Abstract

<b>Objectives:</b> The main objectives of this study were to describe the current state of character strengths (CSs) of nurses; explain how they affect stress, sleep quality, and subjective health status; and reveal the mediating role of stress for the subject matter on the association between CSs, sleep quality, and subjective health status. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from September to October 2020 in China. A multistage stratified sampling method was used, and 1,221 valid questionnaires across 100 cities in 31 provinces were collected. <b>Results:</b> For the participants in this survey, the three dimensions of CSs ranging from high to low were caring (4.20 ± 0.640), self-control (3.53 ± 0.763), and inquisitiveness (3.37 ± 0.787). There was difference in CSs scores across age (<i>F</i> = 8.171, <i>P</i> < 0.01), professional categories (<i>F</i> = 5.545, <i>P</i> < 0.01), and job tenure (<i>F</i> = 9.470, <i>P</i> < 0.01). The results showed that CSs significantly affected the psychological stress (β = -0.365, <i>P</i>< <i>0.01</i>), sleep quality (β = 0.312, <i>P</i>< <i>0.01</i>), and subjective health (β = 0.398, <i>P</i>< <i>0.01</i>) of nurses. Moreover, psychological stress partially mediated the association between CSs and both types of health outcomes. <b>Conclusion:</b> In China, the CSs of nurses are at high levels. We find that nurses with high-level CSs are likely to experience less psychological stress and exhibit healthy psycho-physiological responses, which contribute to positive health outcomes. Finally, our study argues that strength-based interventions of positive psychology in hospitals should be provided to minimize threats to the physical and psychological health of health professionals, which is a beneficial choice for future hospital reforms in the domain of occupational health management.