Career stage variations in mental and somatic health symptoms among nursing professionals in China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

Nursing staff health status is pivotal to healthcare system resilience during global health crises. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate nurses' mental health profiles, focusing on the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms and their associations with career development stages, to inform targeted health interventions.

METHODS

A cross-sectional assessment of 107 nurses from a tertiary hospital was conducted using validated scales: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety, and Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) for somatization. Demographic variables included gender, age, education level, professional title, marital status, parenthood, and work experience. Multivariate logistic regression, chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact test were employed to analyze associations between education, age, professional title, and mental health outcomes.

RESULTS

Most nurses exhibited no significant depression (81.3%) or anxiety (75.7%) symptoms. However, higher education levels (OR = 2.1, p = 0.03) and younger age (OR = 1.9, p = 0.04) were linked to elevated depression and anxiety risks. Somatization symptoms were predominantly mild-to-moderate (68.2%), with professional title significantly correlating with severity (p = 0.01), suggesting career-stage-specific stress impacts physical health.

CONCLUSION

Career development stages critically influence nurses' psychological and somatic health. Tailored mental health interventions and occupational support strategies are essential to mitigate stress disparities across career phases, optimize nursing resources, and enhance healthcare efficacy.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.