QUALITY OF LIFE IN RELATION TO STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS, DAILY HASSLES, AND COPING RESPONSES AMONG MIDLIFE, FEMALE NAVY NURSES (WOMEN).

Description

A descriptive, correlational study was conducted among 254 female, Navy nurses (aged 40-60) to (a) identify quality of life, stressful life events, daily hassles, and coping responses and (b) determine the relationship between quality of life and common transitions (as measured by stressful life events and daily hassles), and coping responses. Schlossberg's (1984) transition theory guided this study which states that transitions result in changes in relationships, roles, assumptions, and daily routines. Adaptation to transitions is influenced by factors such as personal resources, coping responses, and social support. Questionnaires included a demographic form, Life Events Questionnaire (Norbeck, 1984), Hassles Scale (Kanner, Coyne, Schaefer, & Lazarus, 1981), Ways of Coping Questionnaire (Folkman & Lazarus, 1985), and the Quality of Life Index (Ferrans, 1985). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Although demographics did not have a significant correlation with quality of life, demographics such as age, rank, and years on active duty had a significant negative correlation with total life events, negative events, positive events, and daily hassles. High quality of life ratings were physical independence, children, education, potential to live a long time, and standard of living. Low quality of life ratings included fear of losing a job, stress/worries, daily energy levels, and sex life. There was a significant negative correlation between quality of life and daily hassles, mixed focused coping, and total life events. There was a significant positive correlation between quality of life and problem focused coping. Findings from a stepwise multiple regression analysis determined that daily hassles (R$\sp2$ =.3995) was the best predictor of quality of life, followed by negative stressful events (R$\sp2$ =.4528), positive stressful events (R$\sp2$ =.5085) and mixed focused coping (R$\sp2$ =.5250). Common daily hassles which had a somewhat, moderate, or extreme impact were not enough time to do things, too many things to do, troubling thoughts about the future, concerns about weight, too many responsibilities and interruptions, concerns about retirement, too many meetings, and health of family members. The 5 most common work related hassles rated as being either moderately or extremely severe were concerns about retirement (31.1%), too many meetings (27.9%), concerns about decision to change jobs (20.8%), job dissatisfaction (18.9%), and concerns about job security (18.4%). The results of this study may assist the nurse corps in planning interventions to improve the quality of life among nurses. Replication of this study among men and different age groups is recommended.

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