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Factors influencing mental health nurses' attitudes towards people with mental illness
Author(s) -
Hsiao ChiuYueh,
Lu HueiLan,
Tsai YunFang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/inm.12129
Subject(s) - mental health , mental illness , psychiatry , descriptive statistics , empathy , medicine , rehabilitation , multilevel model , clinical psychology , psychology , statistics , mathematics , machine learning , computer science , physical therapy
This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing mental health nurses' attitudes towards people with mental illness. A descriptive correlation design was used. A sample of 180 T aiwanese mental health nurses was recruited from mental health‐care settings. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, P earson's product‐moment correlation, S tudent's t ‐test, one‐way anova , and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Negative attitudes were found among mental health nurses, especially with respect to individuals with substance abuse compared with those with schizophrenia and major depression. Mental health nurses who were older, had more clinical experiences in mental health care, and demonstrated greater empathy expressed more positive attitudes towards people with mental illness. Mental health nurses working at acute psychiatric units demonstrated more negative attitudes towards mental illness compared with those working in psychiatric rehabilitation units and outpatient clinics or community psychiatric rehabilitation centres. Particularly, length of mental health nursing practice and empathy significantly accounted for mental health nurses' attitudes towards mental illness. Understanding nurses' attitudes and their correlates towards people with mental illness is critical to deliver effective mental health nursing care.