Parenting stress, self‐efficacy and COVID‐19 health risks as predictors of general stress among nurses.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of parenting stress, self‐efficacy and COVID‐19 health risks on general stress among nurses in the Midwest, United States, during the pandemic. Background: As frontline workers amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, nurses have been subject to stressors at home and at work. Method: This quantitative, cross‐sectional study included 896 nurses with at least one child below 18 years of age. Using purposive sampling, participants answered an online survey composed of demographic questions, perception of COVID‐19 health risks, measures of self‐efficacy, general stress and parenting stress. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression were conducted. Data were collected from July 13 to August 13, 2020. Results: The four predictors, along with eight demographic covariates, accounted for 40% of the variance in general stress. Parenting stress and COVID‐19 health risks were positively related to general stress, while self‐efficacy was negatively associated with general stress. Conclusions: Results highlight the negative influence of parenting stress on nurses' general stress and the importance of self‐efficacy in reducing stress. Findings suggest that support services for nurses should focus not only on work‐related stressors but also consider parenting stressors, work‐home imbalances and self‐efficacy. Summary Statement: What is already known about this topic? Nurses are experiencing acute stress during the COVID‐19 pandemic because of the close proximity in dealing with infected and dying patients.Healthcare workers who have childcare obligations are facing more responsibilities at home and are less willing to report to work during a pandemic.High self‐efficacy among nurses has been found to significantly relate to willingness to work during a pandemic and that lower self‐efficacy is related to increased fear in caring for infected patients. What is already known about this topic? This paper adds to the limited research on the effects of parenting stress on nurses. This paper shows that parenting stress does contribute to nurses' overall perceived stress.Concerns about the potential risks if nurses themselves were to become infected and worries about the potential risks to family due to the nurses' clinical roles are significantly related to their general stress.In the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, self‐efficacy can serve as a protective factor against stress for nurses working in the frontlines. The implications of this paper: The COVID‐19 pandemic has increased work stress for nurses and contributed to challenges in finding the balance between the increased demands at home and work. To help mitigate stress and support wellbeing of nurses, health care institutions and nurse managers might consider arranging educational parenting support groups, allowing more flexible work hours or self‐scheduling, extended rest days, providing free or subsidized childcare and offering professional development opportunities that enhance self‐efficacy among nurses.Challenges experienced by nurses must be addressed as sustained levels of work‐life imbalance may contribute to nursing shortages as nurses succumb to the strain of the stress created by the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]