Stress and depression among nurses: Impact on quality of life in Tirana’s hospital centers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55312/op.v17i1.7250Abstract
Introduction: The mental health of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, is an increasingly important issue in modern healthcare systems. Daily exposure to stressful situations, multiple responsibilities, and emotion-al burdens significantly affect the mental well-being of these professionals. However, in many cases, their psychological needs remain underestimated, impacting not only their personal quality of life but also the effectiveness of patient care. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of stress and depression on the quality of life of nursing staff in hospital centers in the city of Tirana. Through a questionnaire distributed across five hospital centers, the study aims to identify the levels of stress and depression, and their correlation with the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of quality of life. Methodology: The research method is based on data collection using standardized questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for stress, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression, and the WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life. Data collection was conducted between February 2025 and May 2025 (over a four-month period). The questionnaire was completed via the Google Forms platform. Responses were gath-ered from 410 nursing staff members working in hospital centers in the city of Tirana. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate a strong correlation between high levels of stress and depressive symptoms with a significant reduction in quality of life among nursing staff. The negative effects of these psychological phenomena manifest as persistent fatigue, deterioration of interpersonal relation-ships, and a noticeable decline in professional performance, which directly affects the quality of care provided to patients. The study highlights the need for structured interventions such as psychological support, improved working conditions, and early identification of symptoms, in order to maintain men-tal health and improve the quality of healthcare services.Keywords:
Stress, stress management, nursing staff, psychological well-being, quality of life, profes-sional performance, emotional support, etc.Downloads
References
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7. Galanis Panagiotis, Vraka Ilaria, Fragkou Dimitra, Bilali Argyro, Kaitelidou Daphne, (2022), “Im-pact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, doi: 10.1016/j. ijnurstu.2022.104272 PMCID: PMC9045868 PMID: 35576637
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8. Gray Patricia, Senabe Sanele, Naicker, Nisha, Kgalamono, Sanele, Yassi, Annalee, Spiegel Jeffrey M., (2019), “Workplace-based organizational interventions promoting mental health and happiness among healthcare workers: a realist review”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224396, PMID: 31717906
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9. Jackson Debra, Firtko Anna, Edenborough Maureen, (2007), “Personal resilience as a strategy for survival and advancement in the face of workplace challenges: A literature review”, Journal of Ad-vanced Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04412.x, PMID: 17824934
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10. Karadağ, M., Yilmaz, D., & Duran, S. (2024). The relationship between job satisfaction and depres-sion, anxiety and stress levels in nurses. Journal of Nursing Management. PubMed ID: 39973959)
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11. Lee, H., Baek, W., Lim, A., & Kim, J. (2021). Secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfac-tion mediate the association between stress and burnout among Korean hospital nurses: A cross-sec-tional study. BMC Nursing, 20, 115. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00636-w).
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13. Maud M Heinen 1 , Theo van Achterberg, René Schëendimann, Britta Zander, Anne Matthews, Maria Kózka, Anneli Ensio, Ingeborg Strømseng Sjetne, Teresa Moreno Casbas, Jane Ball, Lisette Schoonhoven (2013).”Nurses’ intention to leave their profession: a cross sectional observational study in 10 European countries” PMID: 23107005 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.09.019
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14. Ngjela, J, (2024), “Prevalence of professional burnout among nursing staff”, pg. 1, Journal Optime,
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15. Pappa Sofia Ntella, Vasiliki Giannakas, Thomas Giannakoulis, Vasilios G., Papoutsi, Eleni Katsaou-nou, Paraskevi, (2020), “Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare work-ers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 88:901–907, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.026
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16. Panagioti, M., Panagopoulou, E., & Bower, P. (2021). Reducing burnout and improving well-being among healthcare professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 8(1), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30412-8
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17. Tran Bach Xuan, Ha Gia H., Nguyen, Dung N., Nguyen, Thi P., Do, Hien Th., Latkin, Carl A., Ho, Cyrus S. H., Ho, Roger C. M., (2020), “Global mapping of interventions to improve quality of life of patients with depression during 1990–2018”, Quality of Life Research, 29(9):2333–2343, https:// doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02512-7
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18. Wojciechowski, E., Pearsall, C., Murphy, P., & French, E. (2021), “The Role of Emotional Intel-ligence and Organizational Support in Reducing Burnout and Improving Retention Among Nurs-es”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 1038. https://doi. org/10.3390/ijerph18031038.
References
1. Adel Tutuo Tamata, Masoud Mohammadnezhad (2023). “A systematic review study on the factors affecting shortage of nursing workforce in the hospitals” PMID: 36303066 PMCID: PMC9912424 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1434
2. Alacacioglu Ahmet, Yavuzsen Tugba, Dirioz Meliha, Oztop Ilhan, Yilmaz Ugur, (2009) “Burnout in nurses and physicians working at an oncology department”, Psychooncology , May;18(5):543-doi: 10.1002/pon.1432.
3. World Health Organization, (2024, April 25), “Protecting health and care workers’ mental health and “Well-being”, Technical Consultation Meeting. https://www.who.int/news/item/25-04-2024-202404_protecth_mentalhealth.
4. Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2007), “The Job Demands-Resources model: State of the art. Jour-nal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
5. Chutiyami, M., Cheong, A. M. Y., Salihu, D., Bello, U. M., Ndëiga, D., Maharaj, R., … & Kannan,
P. (2022). COVID-19 pandemic and overall mental health of healthcare professionals globally: A
meta-review of systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 804525. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35111089
6. de Vries, Henk Fishta, Alina Weikert, Barbara Wegewitz, Uta Schneider, Eric, (2021), “The preva-lence of stress-related outcomes and occupational Well-being among emergency nurses in the Neth-erlands and the role of job factors: A regression tree analysis”, Journal of Nursing Management, 29(6):1451–1460, https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13294
7. Galanis Panagiotis, Vraka Ilaria, Fragkou Dimitra, Bilali Argyro, Kaitelidou Daphne, (2022), “Im-pact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, doi: 10.1016/j. ijnurstu.2022.104272 PMCID: PMC9045868 PMID: 35576637
8. Gray Patricia, Senabe Sanele, Naicker, Nisha, Kgalamono, Sanele, Yassi, Annalee, Spiegel Jeffrey M., (2019), “Workplace-based organizational interventions promoting mental health and happiness among healthcare workers: a realist review”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224396, PMID: 31717906
9. Jackson Debra, Firtko Anna, Edenborough Maureen, (2007), “Personal resilience as a strategy for survival and advancement in the face of workplace challenges: A literature review”, Journal of Ad-vanced Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04412.x, PMID: 17824934
10. Karadağ, M., Yilmaz, D., & Duran, S. (2024). The relationship between job satisfaction and depres-sion, anxiety and stress levels in nurses. Journal of Nursing Management. PubMed ID: 39973959)
11. Lee, H., Baek, W., Lim, A., & Kim, J. (2021). Secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfac-tion mediate the association between stress and burnout among Korean hospital nurses: A cross-sec-tional study. BMC Nursing, 20, 115. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00636-w).
12. Lu, H., Zhao, Y., and while, A. (2019)., “Job satisfaction among hospital nurses: a literature re-view”, Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 94, 21–31. PMID: 30928718 doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.01.011.
13. Maud M Heinen 1 , Theo van Achterberg, René Schëendimann, Britta Zander, Anne Matthews, Maria Kózka, Anneli Ensio, Ingeborg Strømseng Sjetne, Teresa Moreno Casbas, Jane Ball, Lisette Schoonhoven (2013).”Nurses’ intention to leave their profession: a cross sectional observational study in 10 European countries” PMID: 23107005 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.09.019
14. Ngjela, J, (2024), “Prevalence of professional burnout among nursing staff”, pg. 1, Journal Optime,
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55312/op.vi1.5868
15. Pappa Sofia Ntella, Vasiliki Giannakas, Thomas Giannakoulis, Vasilios G., Papoutsi, Eleni Katsaou-nou, Paraskevi, (2020), “Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare work-ers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 88:901–907, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.026
16. Panagioti, M., Panagopoulou, E., & Bower, P. (2021). Reducing burnout and improving well-being among healthcare professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 8(1), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30412-8
17. Tran Bach Xuan, Ha Gia H., Nguyen, Dung N., Nguyen, Thi P., Do, Hien Th., Latkin, Carl A., Ho, Cyrus S. H., Ho, Roger C. M., (2020), “Global mapping of interventions to improve quality of life of patients with depression during 1990–2018”, Quality of Life Research, 29(9):2333–2343, https:// doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02512-7
18. Wojciechowski, E., Pearsall, C., Murphy, P., & French, E. (2021), “The Role of Emotional Intel-ligence and Organizational Support in Reducing Burnout and Improving Retention Among Nurs-es”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 1038. https://doi. org/10.3390/ijerph18031038.



