The association between occupational physical activity, psychosocial factors and perceived work ability among nurses

Aim: To examine the relationship between physical and psychosocial work-related risk factors and perceived work ability (PWA) among nurses.

Background: The work of nurses is challenging due to its high physical and mental workload. This might reduce PWA. A sustainable level of PWA is crucial to maintain well-being at work and to prevent early dropout. As a consequence, gaining a better understanding of which factors play a role in determining PWA is essential for health care organisations.

Methods: The associations between work-related risk factors and PWA were investigated among 114 nurses from Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. PWA and psychosocial factors were subjectively assessed. Occupational physical activity (OPA) was objectively measured over a period of 2-5 days using two accelerometers.

Results: No association between OPA and PWA was found. Multiple linear regression models revealed that job demands were negatively associated with PWA, whereas job control showed a positive association with PWA.

Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of psychosocial factors for more research on the PWA of nurses. Further investigation into the specific physical work demands of nurses is called for.

Implications for nursing management: Giving attention to psychosocial factors is crucial to enhance the PWA and well-being of nurses.