Relationships of professional identity and psychological reward satisfaction with subjective well-being among Chinese nurses.

AIM

This study aimed at exploring the impact of professional identity and psychological reward satisfaction on subjective well-being and clarifying the effect of psychological reward satisfaction on this relationship.

BACKGROUND

People know little about the effect of psychological reward satisfaction on the relationship between professional identity and subjective well-being.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 1,009 nurses from Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province of China. Professional Identity Scale, Psychological Reward Satisfaction Scale and General Well-Being Schedule were used to assess professional identity, psychological reward satisfaction and subjective well-being, respectively. Associations were explored by using structural equation modelling.

RESULTS

The subjective well-being of 436 (43.2%) nurses was at low and moderate levels. After the adjustment of potential confounding factors, professional identity was still associated with subjective well-being (B = 3.035, β = 0.215, p < .001). Professional identity (r = .308) and psychological reward satisfaction (r = .309) were positively correlated with subjective well-being. Psychological reward satisfaction mediated the association between professional identity and subjective well-being (effect = 0.114, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that the subjective well-being of nurses should be improved by paying special attention to them and taking targeted support measures.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing managers can help enhance the professional identity of nurses by organising nursing education activities, and pay more attention to psychological reward satisfaction to improve the subjective well-being of nurses.