Relationship between stress and performance in a Japanese nursing organization

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the relationship between job stress, stress coping ability and performance among Japanese nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

Health risk and organization environment as job stress factors, sense of coherence (SOC) as stress coping ability and medical risk indicator and sickness‐absence days as a performance proxy were used to investigate the relationship between stress and performance. Length of professional experience also was included in the investigation.

Findings

The findings suggest a possibility that enriching nurses' professional experiences reduces medical risk. There is also a possibility that raising the SOC, while improving organization environment, contributes to reducing sickness‐absence.

Research limitations/implications

A cross‐sectional study of nurses in a single institution was used. In order to generalize the study's results, it will be necessary to conduct multi‐institutional longitudinal studies.

Originality/value

The present study shows key factors affecting medical risk and sickness‐absence leading to a reduced nursing performance.

Citation

Ida, H., Miura, M., Komoda, M., Yakura, N., Mano, T., Hamaguchi, T., Yamazaki, Y., Kato, K. and Yamauchi, K. (2009), "Relationship between stress and performance in a Japanese nursing organization", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 22 No. 6, pp. 642-657. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860910986894