Sense of coherence and work-related patterns of behavior and experience among faculty nurse educators in Egypt

Abstract

Background: Nursing education is associated with high intensity work and potential burnout. Sense of coherence mitigates the effect of job stress and enhances work wellness. This study aims to identify work-related patterns of behavior and experience among nurse educators and examine the independent relationship between sense of coherence and workplace behavior patterns.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design and a sample of 130 nurse educators teaching in the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt. The nurse educators completed questionnaires measuring sense of coherence and work-related patterns of behavior and experience.

Results: Discriminant analysis delineated four work behavior patterns: healthy (16.2%), frugal (1.5%), overburdened (68.5%), and burnout (13.8%). Sense of coherence was positively associated with the healthy work pattern (r = .66, p < .001), and negatively associated with the burnout (r = -.63, p < .001) and overburdened (r = -.18, p < .05) patterns. Regression analyses, controlling for years of teaching experience, indicated that a weak sense of coherence was associated with classification of nurse educators into the overburdened work pattern (B = -.05, SE = .12, Wald χ² = 13.13, p < .001) and the burnout work pattern (B = -.10, SE = .02, Wald χ² = 21.52, p < .001) compared to healthy work pattern.}

Conclusions: The study findings highlight the importance of sense of coherence as a health-promoting resource in the workplace. Strategies are discussed for creating meaningful work experiences to reinforce a sense of coherence and simultaneously cultivate work-related wellness among nurse educators.