Factors Affecting Professional Self-Concept among Psychiatric Nurses in South Korea

Background: We aimed to investigate factors affecting ego-resilience, emotional labor, and job satisfaction and their relationship with professional self-concept among psychiatric nurses. Methods: The study was conducted among nurses working in four psychiatric wards: Sung Eun Medical Foundation Reference Hospital (Medical Corporation) in Jeongeup City, Korea; Dasarang Hospital in Gwangju, Korea; Saemirae Hospital in Gwangju (metropolitan city), Korea; and Jangseong Hospital in Jangseong-eup City, Korea. All nurses fully understood the purpose of the study and voluntarily agreed to participate. From August 14 to September 24, 2020, direct survey data were collected by a researcher using a structured questionnaire. Of the 136 questionnaires retrieved, 129 were used for analysis, while 7 were excluded due to incomplete or missing responses. Results: Significantly different effects on professional self-concept were noted for the following general characteristics: age (P<0.001), religion (P=0.024), duration of nursing career (P=0.041), position (P=0.021), salary (P=0.016), nursing job satisfaction (P=0.022), and psychiatric nursing job satisfaction (P=0.010). Moreover, professional self-concept was correlated with ego-resilience (r=0.62, P<0.001) and job satisfaction (r=0.41, P<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, factors affecting professional self-concept included no religious preference (beta=0.25, P<0.001), employment as a charge nurse (beta=-0.20, P=0.034), and ego-resilience (beta=0.58, P<0.001). The explanatory power was 42.1%. Conclusion: Ego-resilience is the factor most strongly influencing professional self-concept. Furthermore, professional self-concept was stronger among those without religious preferences and those who held senior positions (charge nurse).