Correlation Of Sleep Quality, Mindfulness Level And Personality Traits Among Oncology Clinical Nurses

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between sleep quality, mindfulness level, and personality traits among oncology clinical nurses. The research would provide theoretical basis for promoting the oncology clinical nurses’sleep quality from the perspective of positive psychology, and offer a new insight for administrators to take effective psychological intervention measures.Methods:A convenience sample of 172 participants were recruited from a third-level grade-A hospital and two tumor hospitals in Shandong Province. The questionnaires included general information questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Big Five Inventory (BFI). All the statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software, including descriptive statistics, analyses of variance (ANOVA), independent-sample t tests, Pearson’s bivariate correlations, and multiple hierarchical regression analysis.Results:1. General demographic characteristics among oncology clinical nurses.The participants consisted of 172 female nurses, ranging from 21 to 53 years old (MK32.22; SD=7.36).62.2% had attained a bachelor’s degree or above; 72.7% were married; 11.6% were head nurses; more than a half worked in three shifts; 36.0% had been working as oncology clinical nurses less than 5 years, and 41.3% had worked for more than 10 years; 58.7% were formal nurses, and 41.3% were contract nurses.2. The scores of PSQI and differences in demographic variablesThe average scores of PSQI in oncology clinical nurses were (5.48±3.19), and 79 (45.9%) of the nurses’ PSQI was greater than 5 points which indicated that they had the poor quality of sleep. Results showed that 22.7% of nurses self-evaluated their sleep quality was relatively poor; 16.2% of nurses need more than half an hour to fall asleep; 27.3% of nurses slept less than 7 hours one day; 33.8% of the nurses’ sleep efficiency was lower than 85%; a smaller number (4.2%) took the sleeping pills; 59.9% of oncology clinical nurses had moderate or severe daytime dysfunction.The independent-sample t tests and ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in PSQI scores in terms of marital status (t=2.491, P=0.014) and work seniority (F=3.362, P=0.037).3. The correlations among the mindfulness level, personality traits and the scores of PSQI.Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the mindfulness level (r=-0.281, P<0.01), extraversion (r=-0.152, P<0.05) and openness (r=-0.165, P<0.05) had a significantly negative correlation with PSQI global scores; neuroticism (r=0.249, P<0.01) had a significantly positive correlation with PSQI global scores. In addition, the mindfulness level was significantly related to extraversion (r=0.259, P<0.01), conscientiousness (r=0.331, P<0.01), and neuroticism (r=-0.292, P<0.01).4. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis of sleep quality among oncology clinical nurses.In the multiple hierarchical regression analysis, the study selected global scores of PSQI as the dependent variables, and social demography variables as first-level control variables. Then, three domains of BFI related to sleep quality and mindfulness level were selected as second-level and third-level variables, respectively. Finally, we selected neuroticism x mindfulness level, extraversion x mindfulness level, or openness x mindfulness level as forth-level variables. Results of multiple hierarchical regression analysis showed that mindfulness level (P=-0.246--0.202, P<0.001), extraversion (P=-0.161,?<0.05, AR2= 0.026), and neuroticism (0= 0.250, P<0.001, AR 2= 0.062) had main effects on sleep quality; nevertheless, openness (β=-0.134, P>0.05) had no main effects on sleep quality. The results also indicated that mindfulness level moderated the relationships between extraversion, neuroticism and sleep quality.Conclusions:1. Approximately half (45.9%) of oncology clinical nurses reported poor quality of sleep.2. among oncology clinical nurses was positively correlated with the mindfulness level. As for personality traits, there were negative relationships between neuroticism and the quality of sleep. However, the quality of sleep was positively related to extraversion and openness.3. Mindfulness level, extraversion, and neuroticism had main effects on the quality of sleep. Meanwhile, mindfulness level moderated the relationship between extraversion, neuroticism, and the quality of sleep.