# Latent profiles of occupational stress and their association with premenstrual syndrome: a cross-sectional study of Chinese nurses

## TL;DR

This study identifies three types of occupational stress among Chinese female nurses and finds that higher stress is linked to more premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel classification of occupational stress subtypes among nurses and links them to premenstrual syndrome risk.

## Key findings

- Three distinct occupational stress subtypes were identified among female nurses.
- Higher stress subtypes were associated with significantly increased premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
- Age, work experience, and night shifts were key factors influencing stress subtypes.

## Abstract

Occupational stress in nursing is a critical issue that can have significant implications for both workforce stability and personal health. This study aimed to identify subgroups of occupational stress among Chinese female clinical nurses using latent profile analysis, compare sociodemographic differences across these subgroups, and examine their associations with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

A cross-sectional study was conducted among female nurses in tertiary hospitals in Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, China, from November to December 2023. We recruited participants via convenience sampling, and 400 valid questionnaires were collected. Data were collected using a researcher-developed general information questionnaire, the standardized Chinese Nurses Stressor Scale (35 items), and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed with Mplus 8.0 to identify occupational stress subtypes. Sociodemographic predictors of these subtypes were explored using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression in SPSS 25.0. The association between stress subtypes and PMS symptoms was assessed using ANOVA. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses.

Three clinical female nurse occupational stress subtypes were identified: overall low-stress (38.3%, n = 153), moderate stress–slight overload care (38.5%, n = 154), and high stress–overload nursing and career development challenge (23.2%, n = 93). Age, years of work experience, and monthly night shifts were key influencing factors. The results revealed a statistically significant difference in PMS scores across the stress groups (p < 0.001). Specifically, nurses in the high stress–overload nursing and career development challenge group faced a significantly higher risk for PMS, whereas those in the overall low-stress group exhibited the fewest related symptoms.

This study identified significant heterogeneity in occupational stress among clinical female nurses, categorized into three distinct subtypes differing in stress levels and demographic characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual differences when developing interventions to address occupational stress. The study advocates for the implementation of intervention strategies targeting different types of stress in nursing education and organizational reform to better support nurses in fulfilling their responsibilities.