Relationship between emotional intelligence, patients' positive reactions toward nurses, and work engagement among mental health nurses: A cross-sectional study

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q2 NURSING

Japan Journal of Nursing Science Pub Date : 2026-03-07 DOI:10.1111/jjns.70046

Tsuyoshi Mukaihata, Chieko Greiner, Emiko Ishida, Hirokazu Fujimoto

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aim

Mental health nurses face numerous work-related stressors that can hinder job performance. Work engagement is critical for enhancing performance. Although emotional intelligence might influence work engagement, the mediating role of patients' positive reactions toward nurses—as perceived by mental health nurses—has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to examine the relationships among emotional intelligence, patients' positive reactions toward nurses, and work engagement in mental health nurses.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 547 mental health nurses from 32 hospitals in Japan. Data on demographics, emotional intelligence, patients' positive reactions toward nurses, and work engagement were collected, followed by mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro.

Results

Emotional intelligence was positively associated with patients' positive reactions toward nurses (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). In turn, patients' positive reactions toward nurses were associated with higher work engagement (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). The analysis indicated a significant indirect effect of emotional intelligence on work engagement via patients' positive reactions toward nurses (indirect effect; 95% bootstrap confidence interval: 0.08; [0.05, 0.12]), suggesting that emotionally intelligent nurses perceive more positive reactions from patients, which, in turn, may contribute to their work engagement.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that emotional intelligence may help nurses foster positive and trusting relationships with patients, potentially supporting higher work engagement. The results highlight the importance of providing environments that cultivate emotional intelligence, strengthen interpersonal skills, and encourage the practical development of patient–nurse relationships to enhance well-being and sustained engagement in mental health settings.

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心理健康护士情绪智力、患者对护士的积极反应与工作投入的关系：一项横断面研究。

目的：心理健康护士面临着许多与工作有关的压力源，这些压力源会阻碍工作表现。工作投入对提高绩效至关重要。虽然情绪智力可能会影响工作投入，但病人对护士的积极反应的中介作用——正如心理健康护士所感知的那样——尚未得到彻底的调查。本研究旨在探讨心理健康护士情绪智力、患者对护士的积极反应与工作投入之间的关系。方法：对日本32家医院的547名心理健康护士进行横断面调查。收集人口统计学、情绪智力、患者对护士的积极反应和工作敬业度数据，然后使用PROCESS宏观进行中介分析。结果：情绪智力与患者对护士的积极反应呈正相关（β = 0.36, p）。结论：情绪智力有助于护士与患者建立积极、信任的关系，可能支持更高的工作投入。结果强调了提供培养情商的环境的重要性，加强人际交往能力，并鼓励实际发展的病人-护士关系，以提高福祉和持续参与精神卫生设置。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Japan Journal of Nursing Science 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Japan Journal of Nursing Science is the official English language journal of the Japan Academy of Nursing Science. The purpose of the Journal is to provide a mechanism to share knowledge related to improving health care and promoting the development of nursing. The Journal seeks original manuscripts reporting scholarly work on the art and science of nursing. Original articles may be empirical and qualitative studies, review articles, methodological articles, brief reports, case studies and letters to the Editor. Please see Instructions for Authors for detailed authorship qualification requirement.