Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24141/2/9/1/9

The Relationship Between Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Nurses

Zrinka Pukljak orcid.org/0009-0005-1168-5900 ; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia *
Lada Perković orcid.org/0009-0009-1738-0680 ; University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Lidija Gavić ; University Hospital Centre Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Introduction. Numerous studies have shown that
there is significant relationship between nurses’
emotional states and their work performance. This
relationship is particularly significant when symptoms
of distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) are
elevated. Cognitive emotion regulation strategies
that support effective responses to environmental
challenges are termed adaptive, while those that impede
functioning are known as maladaptive.

Aim. To examine mental health of nurses, as measured
by depression, anxiety and stress and to investigate
the contribution of cognitive emotion regulation
strategies to the prediction of depression, anxiety
and stress.

Methods. Data were collected in February 2023 at
Osijek University Hospital. A total of 82 nurses participated
in the study. Data were collected using
sociodemographic questions, the Depression, Anxiety,
and Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995),
and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire
(Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006).

Results. Although most nurses do not experience
depression, anxiety, and stress beyond the normal
level, there is a non-negligible proportion who exhibit
symptoms ranging from mild to extremely severe
levels of these negative emotional states.
The largest proportion of severe and extremely severe
results, that might be of clinical significance, was observed for anxiety (18.53%). The maladaptive
strategy of blaming others was found to be a
significant predictor of depression, anxiety, stress
and positive refocusing was significant predictor of
stress.

Conclusion. The results suggest that the use of specific
cognitive emotion regulation strategies plays an
important role in nurses’ mental health, measured as
rates of depression, anxiety and stress. This underscores
the need for and importance of implementing
education and training programmes on cognitive
emotion regulation strategies in the professional
education of nurses.

Keywords

anxiety, depression, mental health, emotion regulation, nurses

Hrčak ID:

331008

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/331008

Publication date:

20.5.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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