Psychiatric work environment, stress and quality of life of mental health practitioners in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between psychiatric work environment, stress and quality of life of mental health practitioners in Nigeria, with four objectives, two research questions and four hypotheses. The research adopted mixed study, cross-sectional, correlational, phenomenological and sequential explanatory designs on 274 and 28 participants for quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Data was collected using self- administered questionnaire and structured interview guide. Quantitative data was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Process Macro analysis. In addition, qualitative data was analysed using case and content analysis, and presented using data display methods, problem/cause and solution methods, direct quotations, and thematic analysis. Results indicated that psychiatric work environment correlated with eustress (r=.226, p<0.01) and distress (r=-.230, p<0.01); quality of life correlated with eustress (r=.222, p<0.01) and distress (r=-.231, p<0.01); and the qualitative findings validated and explained these outcomes. In the psychiatric work environment and quality of life relationship, only social support correlated with quality of life (r=.111, p<0.05). Qualitatively, psychiatric work environment influenced stress and quality of life indicating that eustress improves while distress impairs quality of life. Additionally, stress (eustress and distress) is a potential mediator of quality of life showing that, eustress reduces the effect of the psychiatric work environment and improves practitioners’ quality of life. Nonetheless, distress increases the effect of the psychiatric work environment and impairs the quality of life of practitioners. In conclusion, an unfavourable psychiatric work environment is likely to breed illness conditions, fear and deteriorates the quality of life of mental health practitioners. However, encouraging social support enables practitioners to function better; and the ability to confidently handle stressful encounters would lead to eustress, and maximize physical and mental performance, that will likely increase functioning. Hence, there is a need to improve the psychiatric work environment to enhance practitioners' quality of life in Nigeria.