Abstract:
Objective
To investigate the mediating effect of coping style in the relationship between work stress and mental health of nuclear enterprise employees.
Methods
By cluster random sampling method, a total of 480 staff were selected from five departments of a nuclear enterprise and assessed on mental health, coping style, and work stress using Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and Occupational Stress Questionnaire, respectively. The mediating effect of coping style was verified through structural equation model.
Results
Totally 457 valid questionnaires were returned. The scores of all SCL-90 dimensions were lower than the relevant national norm's (P < 0.05). The mental health status was positively correlated with negative coping style (r=0.458, P < 0.05) and work stress (r=0.192, P < 0.05); work stress was positively correlated with negative coping style (r=0.113, P < 0.05). Negative coping style demonstrated partially mediating effects on the relationship between work stress and mental health (χ2/v=2.236, normed fit index=0.979, goodness of fit index=0.957, relative fit index=0.965, incremental fit index=0.988, non-nonmed fit index=0.981, comparative fit index=0.988, root mean square error of approximation=0.052).
Conclusion
Work stress not only poses a direct effect on mental health but also has an indirect effect on mental health through negative coping style.