Level of physical activities and its relationship with psychological hardiness and resilience in ICU nurses of selected educational hospitals in Tabriz University of Medical Siences, 2024

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objective: Nurses constitute the largest number of healthcare workers and due to stressful working conditions; their quality of professional life is vulnerable. One of the most important coping strategies in stressful situations is psychological hardiness and resilience. Exercise and physical activity levels are also important factors in maintaining and promoting physical and mental health in individuals. However, the relationship between physical activity level and psychological outcomes in nurses has been less studied. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the level of physical activity and its relationship with psychological hardiness and resilience in ICU nurses. Methods: The current study design is descriptive-correlational in which the data of 225 nurses working in ICU (by random sampling) were collected through research tools such as demographics, Conner and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Ahvaz Psychological Hardiness and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data were analyzed in SPSS version 24 using descriptive and inferential statistics including Pearson correlation test, independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance and chi-squared. Results: The results of data analysis showed that 78.2% of the nurses were female, 67.6% were married, and their mean age was 35.23 years, and about 57% of them had 10 years or less of work experience with an average of 49 hours of work per week. The nurses' mean resilience and hardiness scores were 60.10 ± 13.50 and 46.23 ± 8.54, respectively, which is within an acceptable range. Almost half of the nurses (45.3%) had low levels of physical activity and only 20% of them had vigorous activity. Based on the results of the Pearson correlation test, a statistically significant and direct relationship was found between the variables of resilience and psychological hardiness (p < 0.001, r = 0.53). Also, no statistically significant relationship was found between the level of physical activity and the variables of psychological hardiness (df = 3, F = 0.51, and p = 0.68) and resilience (df = 3, F = 0.68, p = 0.56). In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between a history of physical activity and the variables of hardiness and resilience (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the level of physical activity in nurses is low, but their level of resilience and hardiness is adequate. Nurses who had a previous history of exercise had higher levels of hardiness and resilience than other nurses. Therefore, to improve and promote resilience and hardiness in nurses, as well as to increase their level of physical activity, a well-documented and coherent educational and management program in the area of exercise and activity should be implemented. Physical fitness is a need for nurses that can lead to improved physical and mental health, and subsequently improve the quality of nursing services and the health of the community.