Predictors of the Psychological Well-being of Nurses in small-and Medium-sized Hospital: the Mediating Effects of Emotional Intelligence

This study is descriptive research conducted to determine the levels of depression, emotional intelligence, and psychological well-being of nurses employed in small-and medium-sized hospitals, as well as to identify the correlations of these variables, predict factors influencing nurses' psychological well-being, and finally, test the mediating effects of emotional intelligence in the relationship between depression and psychological well-being. The subjects of the study included 336 nurses employed in small-and medium-sized hospitals located in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. Using a structured questionnaire, a sample was taken from December 17, 2016 to January 8, 2017. The results that the nurses showed an average level of depression with a mean score of 1.55 points, while their mean scores of emotional intelligence and psychological well-being were above average (3.05 and 3.51 scores, respectively). Depression exhibited negative (-) correlations with emotional intelligence and psychological well-being, whereas emotional intelligence had a positive (+) correlation with psychological well-being. The significant predictors of psychological well-being were found to include sleep hours (${\beta}=0.111$), working department (${\beta}=0.236$), and depression (${\beta}=-0.245$). Moreover, evaluation of the mediating effects of emotional intelligence revealed significant relationships between depression and regulation of emotion (${\beta}=0.527$) and between depression and emotional utilization (${\beta}=0.167$). In conclusion, the work environment and depression were predicted to be major factors influencing psychological well-being, while emotional intelligence was found to be a partially mediating factor. Overall, these results demonstrate that easing depression and improving emotional intelligence can be very positive countermeasures in revitalizing the hospital organization, as well as in ensuring the happiness of individual nurses. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving work environments and easing depression are required to improve nurses' psychological well-being.

중소병원 간호사의 심리적복지감 예측요인: 감성지능의 조절효과

이 연구는 중소병원에 종사하는 간호사를 대상으로 우울, 감성지능, 심리적복지감 수준을 알아보고 이들 변인 간 상관성 파악과 심리적복지감 영향요인 예측, 그리고 감성지능의 조절효과를 검정하고자 실시된 서술적 조사연구이다. 이를 위해 대구 경북지역에 소재한 중소병원 간호사를 대상으로 2016년 12월 17일부터 2017년 1월 8일까지 336명의 자료가 편의 표집 되었다. 연구결과, 우울의 평균은 1.55점으로 보통수준을 보였으며, 감성지능은 3.05점, 심리적 복지감은 3.51점으로 보통이상의 수준으로 나타났다. 우울은 감성지능과 심리적복지감에 음(-)의 상관성을 나타내었고, 감성지능은 심리적복지감과 양(+)의 상관성을 보였다. 심리적복지감 예측요인으로는 수면시간(${\beta}=.111$), 근무부서(${\beta}=.236$), 우울(${\beta}=-.245$)이 유의미하게 예측되었다. 그리고 감성지능의 조절효과 검정에서 우울${\times}$감성조절(${\beta}=.527$)과 우울${\times}$감성활용${\beta}=.167$)이 유의미하게 예측되었다. 결론적으로 심리적복지감에는 근무부서와 우울이 주요한 영향요인으로 예측되었으며, 감성지능은 부분적인 조절요인으로 확인되었다. 우울완화와 감성지능 향상은 간호사 개인의 행복한 삶뿐만 아니라 병원조직 활성화에 매우 긍정적인 대처요인의 하나임을 알 수 있다. 따라서 심리적복지감 향상을 위한 근무여건 개선과 우울완화를 위한 중재방안이 요구된다.