B Vitamins, work-related stress and emotional mental disorders: a cross-sectional study among nurses in Indonesia

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between intake of vitamins B1, B6, B9 and B12 with emotional mental disorders among nurses in Indonesia. Design: This cross-sectional study included nurses who have worked at least six months at a private hospital in Indonesia from March to April 2021. Methods: We used the Food Frequency Questionnaire, Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 and the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale questionnaire to assess the B-vitamin intake, emotional mental disorders and work-related stress. Results: Of 80 interviewed nurses, 8.8% experienced severe work-related stress, and 22.5% had emotional mental disorders. Most nurses had inadequate intake of vitamins B1 and B9 but had adequate intake of vitamins B6 (72.5%) and B12 (56.3%). Emotional mental disorders are more probably to occur in nurses with less intake of vitamins B6 and B12, with respective aOR of 20.06, 95% CI 4.14-97.09 (p < .001) and 4.49, 95% CI 1.19-16.83 (p = .026).