ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of perceived social support in the association between perceived stress and job burnout in midwives. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey. METHODS: Using the stratified cluster sampling method, 329 midwives in 20 hospitals in China were selected as the participants. They completed self-report assessment measures of job burnout, perceived stress and perceived social support. RESULTS: 63.5% of the participants had job burnout. Perceived stress was negatively associated with social support (r = -.350, p < .01), while it was positively associated with job burnout (r = -.382, p < .01). Social support was negatively correlated with job burnout (r = -.569, p < .01). The total effect of perceived stress on job burnout was 0.474 (95% CI: 0.367 ~ 0.596, p < .01), the direct effect was 0.242 (95% CI: 0.142 ~ 0.355, p < .01), and the indirect effect was 0.232 (95% CI: 0.160 ~ 0.316, p < .01). Social support programmes for midwives should be implemented to control the impact of perceived stress on job burnout.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a threat to the mental health of pregnant women. AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and anxiety, and the mediating effect of risk perception during the COVID-19 epidemic in the third trimester pregnant women in Qingdao, China. METHODS: From 16 to 21 February 2020, an online survey was conducted, which collected the information on demographic data, anxiety, social support and risk perception to COVID-19 of women with established medical records in the ambulatory of the Department of Obstetrics at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. Anxiety was assessed by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), social support was assessed by the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and risk perception was assessed by a self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: This study had 308 participants with an average of 31.02 ± 3.91 years. During the period of prevention and control of the epidemic, most pregnant women adopted protective measures, such as wearing masks (97.4%), washing hands frequently (88.3%) and staying at home (76.3%). The average SAS, SSRS and risk perception scores of the participants were 42.45 ± 6.98, 44.60 ± 7.00 and 21.60 ± 5.74, respectively. The total effect of maternal social support on anxiety was -2.63 (95% confidence interval (CI): -4.40 ~ -1.44, p < .001), the direct effect was -1.44 (95% CI: -2.74 ~ -0.35, p < .05) and the indirect effect was -1.19 (95% CI: -2.49 ~ -0.51, p < .001). CONCLUSION: The third trimester pregnant women had a high level of social support, a medium level of risk perception to COVID-19 and were susceptible to anxiety. Risk perception played a mediating role between social support and anxiety.