Perceived organizational support for strengths use and its impact on nurses' job performance: The mediating roles of control beliefs about stress and optimism.

Aims: This study explores how perceived organizational support for strengths use influences nurses' job performance, specifically examining the mediating effects of control beliefs about stress and optimism.

Background: Identifying factors that enhance job performance is crucial in the demanding field of nursing. Previous research has highlighted the positive impact of perceived organizational support for strengths use on job performance.

Method: Conducted between May and October 2023, this study involved 653 nurses from various hospital settings across three Chinese provinces. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling methods ensured a representative sample. Questionnaires distributed via an online platform measured variables including perceived organizational support for strengths use, control beliefs about stress, optimism, and job performance. Data analysis utilized SPSS-25 and the PROCESS macro, with correlation and regression analyses examining the relationships between perceived organizational support for strengths use, control beliefs about stress, optimism, and job performance.

Results: Perceived organizational support for strengths use positively correlates with control beliefs about stress, optimism, and job performance. Control beliefs about stress and optimism serve as mediators in the relationship between perceived organizational support for strengths use and job performance, both independently and sequentially, with optimism being the more potent mediator.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that control beliefs about stress and optimism independently and sequentially mediate the relationship between perceived organizational support for strengths use and job performance among nurses.

Implications for nursing and health policy: This research underscores the importance of creating a work environment that leverages nurses' strengths and fosters their ability to manage stress and maintain optimism in the face of workplace challenges. Such an environment can significantly enhance job performance and overall well-being among nurses.