Control beliefs about stress and post-traumatic growth in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating roles of basic psychological needs satisfaction and optimism

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between control beliefs about stress and post-traumatic growth among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction and optimism in this relationship. A total of 692 Chinese nurses participated in this online study, who completed the Beliefs about Stress Scale, Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale and demographic variables between September and October 2020. Results indicate that 48.8% (N = 388) of nurses reported significant post-traumatic growth related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, control beliefs about stress were positively related to post-traumatic growth (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), basic psychological needs satisfaction (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and optimism (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). In addition, basic psychological needs satisfaction and optimism were both independent and serial mediators of the relationship between control beliefs about stress and post-traumatic growth. Nurses and hospital administrators should focus on increasing nurses' control beliefs about stress and thereby enhancing their post-traumatic growth after experiencing events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. To support this process, programs should be designed to meet nurses' basic psychological needs and increase their optimism.