Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Work-related stress is the physical and emotional manifestation triggered by an imbalance in coping with perceived demands. One of the workers most affected by work-related stress is the nursing staff, a situation that was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and could affect their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the connection between quality of life and work-related stress in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analytical, cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were used for the present study. RESULTS: a negative correlation was obtained between quality of life and stress level (r = -0.438, p < 0.01), and being a professional nurse was related to higher stress levels. On the other hand, being 31 years or older and having more than 12 months of work experience were associated with a higher quality of life score, while being female, single, separated, or widowed and having higher acute stress scores indicated a significantly worse quality of life. DISCUSSION: Acute stress negatively affects the quality of life of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and this differs significantly according to age, sex, marital status, and work experience. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the health sector authorities design policies that guarantee strategies to improve the mental health of nursing personnel, as well as to guarantee fair and dignified treatment.