Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses faced increased psychological burdens due to prolonged exposure to patients, resulting in diminished quality of life (QOL). Sense of coherence (SOC) has been recognized as a crucial psychological resource that enhances coping capacity and promotes QOL. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the factors associated with QOL among nurses, particularly focusing on the role of SOC in mitigating job stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 798 staff nurses at a university hospital in Japan in December 2021 using four validated self-administered measures to assess SOC, job stress, social support, and QOL. Of the distributed questionnaires, 144 were returned (response rate: 18%). Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore factors predicting mental health-related QOL. RESULTS: Among nurses who cared for COVID-19 patients, job stress (β = 0.311, p = .018) and the manageability subscale of SOC (β = 0.282, p = .047) significantly predicted higher QOL scores. These associations were not observed among nurses who did not care for COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancing the manageability aspect of SOC may be a protective factor against psychological stress in nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight the importance of localized psychological support strategies－such as structured peer support, resilience training, and organizational transparency－to help nurses maintain mental well-being and QOL during and beyond pandemic conditions.