Job demands and general health of nursing staff in German nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic : the buffering effect of job resources

Abstract

Background Nursing staff in nursing homes face high workloads, negatively impacting their health. This issue is exacerbated by workforce shortages and rising care needs, highlighting the necessity of identifying resources that mitigate workload-related stress. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 364 nurses from 55 nursing homes in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, at the end of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative demands, personal and job-related resources and general health were assessed using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the German general self-efficacy short scale (ASKU). Moderator analyses were conducted to examine the buffering effect of resources on the impact of job demands on general health. Results High quantitative demands were significantly associated with poorer general health among nursing staff. Job-related resources, including sense of community (β = 0.27, p < .001), support at work (β = 0.12, p = .031), and commitment to workplace (β = 0.13, p = .013), moderated the negative effect of job demands on general health. Personal resources such as resilience and self-efficacy did not emerge as significant moderators. Conclusions Results show that nursing staff with higher levels of job resources experienced less deterioration in general health under increasing job demands. This demonstrates the importance of fostering organizational resources to mitigate the adverse health effects of high workload in this context. Therefore, systemic organizational changes may be more impactful than personal resource-focused strategies in addressing stress for nursing staff. Interventions that enhance workplace cohesion, support, and commitment are likely to yield benefits for nurses’ health.