The effects of mental health problems of nurses and doctors on their professional commitment and work engagement levels

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of mental health problems on professional commitment and work engagement levels of nurses and doctors. In the literature, studies suggest that mental health problems affect employees’ attitudes and behaviors both in their social and work life. In this context, the extent of this study consist of positive outputs such as professional commitment and work engagement, which are related with employees work life and considered to be effected from the mental health. Accordingly, this study aims to determine the effects of some of the mental health problems called as depression, loss of confidence, insomnia, social dysfunction and anxiety on nurses and doctor’s professional commitment and work engagement levels. For this purpose, the data which are collected from 145 nurses and doctors working in public and private hospitals by the survey method are analyzed by using the structural equation modelling. In this respect, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and the structural equation modelling applied to the data obtained from nurses and doctors at the hospitals. The results of the study indicate that two mental health problems, which are addressed as depression and loss of confidence have a significant effect on nurses and doctors’ both normative and continuance professional commitment levels, whereas affective professional commitment levels are not affected by any of the mental health problems. However, depression and insomnia that considered as common mental health problems have both significant effects on nurses and doctors’ vigor and dedication levels. In addition to these, insomnia and anxiety have a significant effect on their absorption levels. © 2014, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved.