Type A Behavior Pattern and Its Association with Stress, Depression and Fatigue in Nurses

Purpose: The present study was intended to assess stress, depression and fatigue of nurses working for university hospitals and to reveal its association with the type A behavior pattern. Method: The self-administered questionnaires were given to 810 nurses employed in 4 participating hospitals located in Daejeon City. The questionnaire items included sociodemographic, job-related, and the type A behavior patterns as independent variables and the PWI, SDS and MFS as dependent variables. Result: The proportion of the type A behavior pattern was 24.3% of subjects, in the degree of stress, high risk stress group was 87.0%, in the degree of depression, normal group was 60.9%, in the degree of fatigue, high risk fatigue group was 48.6%. The degree of stress, depression, and fatigue were significantly higher in the type A behavior pattern group then the type B behavior pattern group. The type A behavior pattern was significant positive correlation with stress, depression, and fatigue. The degree of stress(OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.167-1.262), depression(OR=1.1, 95%CI=1.11-1.17) and fatigue (OR=1.1, 95%CI=1.04-1.06) were significantly higher for the type A then the type B behavior pattern group. Conclusion: The degree of stress, depression, and fatigue were significantly higher in the type A then the type B behavior pattern group.