Gynecological cancers, malignancies of the female reproductive system, impose a heavy health burden on women worldwide (Jiang et al., 2018; Doddi et al., 2023). Based on the 2020 Global Cancer Statistics Report, there were approximately 1.39 million new incidences of gynecological cancers worldwide (Sung et al., 2021). In China, in 2020, there were approximately 250,000 new cases of gynecological cancers, and the number kept rising (Cao et al., 2021). The survival rates for patients with gynecological cancer (GC) have improved with the use of early screening and optimized treatments, resulting in more survivors of gynecological cancers. However, this also indicates a rising number of cases of gynecological cancers in China (Feng et al., 2021).

Nurses are recognized as major providers of professional support and expertise for patients with GC, addressing their multifaceted care needs during the diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, or end-of-life stages (Beesley et al., 2018, 2019; Skorstad et al., 2022). Prior study has indicated that nurses caring for patients with GC face job-related challenges and stressful events. For example, Cook et al. (2021) found that their roles are evolving and expanding. Sun et al. (2023) observed that nurses commonly encounter challenges in delivering sufficient supportive care to patients with GC and Buckley et al. (2018) indicated that they need to keep learning to meet the evolving care requirements of patients with GC. In addition, previous studies have shown that patients with GC often experience emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and mania, with prevalence rates ranging from 40.6 to 66% (Aquil et al., 2021; Suskin et al., 2022; Lee et al., 2023). Nurses caring for them are frequently exposed to these negative emotions over the long term, which can lead to psychological stress and adversely affect their mental health (Edlund et al., 2023).

Furthermore, previous studies have pointed out that GC being a female-specific type of cancer, it brings about a series of disease-specific and treatment-related side effects, such as advancing menopause, decreased quality of sexual life, deterioration of the couple’s relationship, and loss of fertility (Beesley et al., 2018). This means that patients with GC not only have general supportive care needs similar to those of patients with cancer in general, but also have additional specific supportive care needs (Beesley et al., 2018), such as the need for special symptom management, the need to strengthen their couple relationship, and to maintain dignity (Sun et al., 2023). Given the increasing incidence of GC, coupled with the high job demands it places on nurses due to its nature as a female-specific disease, the potentially high levels of job stress nurses face may result in professional mental health issues like compassion fatigue, burnout and emotional exhaustion (Lupo et al., 2013; Al-Ruzzieh and Ayaad, 2021; Edlund et al., 2023). Considering the essential supportive role of nurses for patients with GC in quality of life, symptom management, and care satisfaction (Cook et al., 2015; Beesley et al., 2019), it is important to effectively alleviate their professional mental health problems. With the rise of positive psychology in the nursing field, researchers have turned their attention to the facilitation of positive professional emotional experiences (Hu and Liu, 2013).

Nurses’ perceived professional benefits (NPPB) refers to the benefits that nurses perceive their nursing work brings to them (Hu and Liu, 2013). It is a positive emotional experience about the nursing profession and serves as an internal personal motivational factor that contributes to nurses’ professional development (Wang et al., 2023). Previous study has shown that NPPB is beneficial for mental health (Zhang et al., 2022). Specifically, NPPB can mitigate several adverse outcomes of the nursing environment, such as anxiety, depression, and job burnout (Zhang et al., 2022; Zou and Xie, 2022). Zhan et al.'s (2020) study found that NPPB can contribute not just to nurses’ professional development, but to their subjective well-being too. Relevant studies have indicated that NPPB can enhance nurses’ job satisfaction, improve their willingness to stay in the job, and reduce the turnover rate, which is essential to alleviating the nursing shortage (Zhao et al., 2017). Considering the aforementioned findings, it is crucial to explore the mechanisms by which influence NPPB among nurses caring for patients with GC.

Job stress arises from the interplay between the work environment and individuals’ roles within their jobs (Richardson and Rothstein, 2008). Nurses often face high job-related stress (Luan et al., 2017), such as moral distress, complex and difficult decision-making, high workload, and facing patient death (Eche et al., 2023; Jeong et al., 2023). Previous research has observed a notable negative relationship between job stress and NPPB (Chen et al., 2020). High-load and high-stress work environments may lead to negative emotions among nurses, and reduce work motivation and satisfaction, thereby decreasing NPPB (Chen et al., 2020). However, a systematic review of factors influencing NPPB found that not all nurses experience such a decrease when faced with job stress. Some experience growth, which promotes an increase in NPPB (Sun and Liang, 2021). Nevertheless, the inner mechanisms for this are unclear, and it has not been verified whether other variables influence the connection between job stress and NPPB among nurses caring for patients with GC. Thus, we put forward hypothesis 1:

Perceived social support is an important psychological resource that pertains to the emotional experience that individuals feel when they perceive support, respect, and understanding in society (Sarason et al., 1991; Zhang et al., 2024). It encompasses how individuals perceive and interpret different social relationships, indicating the practical use of social support (Geuzinge et al., 2020). Previous research suggests a negative association between job stress and perceived social support (Su, 2019). When nurses are affected by job stress, perceived social support serves as a vital and protective psychological resource that enhances their adaptability to stressful situations, and facilitates prompt and effective recovery from stressful experiences (Su, 2019). Therefore, we propose hypothesis 2:

Previous research has also indicated that perceived social support is positively associated with NPPB (Zhang et al., 2021). Nurses with high perceived social support are more attuned to the availability of social support they receive, and are more inclined to perceive support from diverse sources including family, friends, and colleagues, which is essential to enhance their professional identity, professional worth, and job satisfaction (Zhao et al., 2021). Furthermore, the main effect model of social support implies that social support positively impacts nurses’ mental well-being and sustains positive emotional experiences (Cohen and Wills, 1985). Thus, nurses who perceive higher levels of social support are more likely to access and effectively utilize this resource within their network, which is beneficial for improving their NPPB. Therefore, we put forward hypothesis 3, 4:

The Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Stress helps explore the association between job stress and stress reactions. It emphasizes that an individual’s cognitive appraisal of stressful events directly influences their psychological responses (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Self-efficacy is one commonly observed cognitive appraisal that may mediate the relationship between job stress and psychological reactions (Dianat et al., 2021). It involves individuals’ evaluations of their ability to perform particular tasks and their confidence in successfully executing specific behaviors (Bandura, 1977). It is dynamic and can evolve through learning, gaining experience, and receiving feedback (Ammentorp et al., 2007). Previous research demonstrated that job stress has a negative influence on nurses’ self-efficacy (Cabrera-Aguilar et al., 2023). This suggests that as nurses feel less control over situations and have lower self-efficacy, job stress tends to rise. Self-efficacy may influence how individuals cognitively, emotionally, and strategically respond to the stress experienced in their job (Tsang et al., 2012). Nurses with high self-efficacy can cope with job stress more effectively due to their belief in their own abilities (Cabrera-Aguilar et al., 2023). They can maintain emotional stability and experience positive emotions (Lu et al., 2023), often viewing job stress as a challenge rather than a threat. Consequently, they are less susceptible to the deleterious influence of job stress (Lu et al., 2023). Therefore, hypothesis 5 is proposed:

Meanwhile, a previous study found that self-efficacy is positively correlated with NPPB (Li et al., 2021). Empirical study shows that self-efficacy is closely associated with positive states (Xanthopoulou et al., 2007). Nurses with high self-efficacy possess positive outcome expectations and exhibit greater work engagement. They feel more energized and focused, take pride in their work, and find it meaningful. This leads to higher levels of personal and professional satisfaction, ultimately improving NPPB (De Simone et al., 2018; Pérez-Fuentes et al., 2018; Li et al., 2021). In summary, according to the cognitive appraisal theory of stress mentioned above, we hypothesize that self-efficacy may mediate the relationship between job stress and psychological reactions (NPPB). Accordingly, we propose hypothesis 6, 7:

Previous research has shown that perceived social support is positively correlated with self-efficacy (Hu et al., 2018; Lu et al., 2023). This implies that perceived support from significant others can serve as a resource for developing and fostering one’s efficacy beliefs regarding performance, functioning, and coping with challenges (Liu and Aungsuroch, 2019). In addition, self-efficacy can be enhanced by external empathy and help. Social support through emotional outreach, information exchange, and interpersonal relationships provide resources and also help to enhance self-efficacy (Bandura, 1986). Research indicates that perceived social support and self-efficacy are useful psychological coping resources that work together to promote mental health and well-being (Liu and Aungsuroch, 2019; Lu et al., 2023). For instance, Wang et al.'s (2018) study indicates that perceived social support can enhance nurses’ self-efficacy, subsequently boosting their resilience. Lu et al. (2023) discovered that perceived social support positively affects the psychological well-being of nurses with low self-efficacy. High perceived social support provides nurses with psychological resources to cope with job stress, strengthen their belief in overcoming challenges, and recognize the value and meaning of their work, thereby increasing job satisfaction and NPPB. Therefore, drawing from the prior studies, we put forward hypothesis 8, 9:

In summary, NPPB as a positive psychological resource is critical for protecting nurses’ mental health and deserves further exploration. While previous research has established a link between job stress and it (Chen et al., 2020; Sun and Liang, 2021), the specific mechanisms that drive this connection are still not fully understood. It has remained unclear whether perceived social support and self-efficacy play a mediating role in the relationship between these two factors. To bridge this knowledge gap, our study constructed a chain mediation model diagram to elucidate the influencing mechanisms between the four variables, aiming to provide nursing managers with evidence to develop personalized strategies that improve NPPB and foster nurses’ mental health. (see Figure 1).

The current study elucidated the roles of perceived social support and self-efficacy in the association between job stress and NPPB. Job stress not only directly and negatively influences NPPB, but also indirectly influences it through the mediating role of perceived social support and the chain mediation of perceived social support and self-efficacy.

This research reveals that job stress directly and negatively influences NPPB, confirming Hypothesis 1, in accordance with previous research findings (Chen et al., 2020). Job stress arises when an individual’s capacity to manage work tasks does not align with the demands of their job (Li and Liu, 2000). When caring for patients with GC, nurses play multiple roles simultaneously, including advisor, guide, key contact, and team support provider, and must switch between these roles at any given time to meet the evolving needs of patients (Kobleder et al., 2017). Under such circumstances, the job demands may exceed the nurse’s capacity, resulting in a decrease in focus, a diminished recognition of the advantages and motivation for work, and an adverse emotional encounter within professional practice (Yang et al., 2020). In addition, nurses also experience psychological stress, including exposure to the negative emotions of patients and their partners (Camara et al., 2019), and caring for patients with terminal gynecological cancer (Boz and Teskereci, 2021). As a result, they must not only balance a demanding work environment, but also manage the negative emotions that may arise in their work (Kase et al., 2019). This dual challenge may lead to adverse mental health outcomes for nurses who have prolonged contact with patients with GC, making them more susceptible to compassion fatigue leading to negative professional experiences such as insomnia and depression (Edlund et al., 2023). This requires nursing managers to appropriately increase the staffing levels of nurses in gynecology wards, to share the multiple roles of caring for patients with GC; to conduct regular stress assessments of nurses’ job stressors and develop measures to reduce these; in addition, they should pay more attention to nurses’ mental health, provide psychological counseling services, and conduct structured training programs to reduce their psychological distress, increasing their NPPB.

Firstly, perceived social support positively impacts NPPB, and acts as an intermediary in the connection between job stress and NPPB; this mediator accounted for 30.8% of the total effect, supporting Hypothesis 2, 3, 4. Similar to previous studies (Liu and Aungsuroch, 2019; Su, 2019; Zhang et al., 2021;). These findings may be plausibly explained by the buffering model of social support, which suggests that when faced with job stress, social support serves as a buffer, alleviating its adverse impacts, promoting mental health, and sustaining positive experiences (Cohen and Wills, 1985). Thus, when nurses caring for patients with GC encounter stressful events such as excessive workload, work–family conflict, and exposure to negative emotions, support from family, colleagues, leaders, and significant others can provide resources and assistance (Su, 2019). Nurses with high perceived social support tend to utilize these resources more effectively and are inclined to adopt positive strategies to cope with job stress, thereby inhibiting or buffering its adverse effects, and helping nurses sustain positive emotional experiences (Cohen and Wills, 1985; Sarason et al., 1991; Xiang et al., 2017). Additionally, their work of caring for patients with GC is respected, praised, and affirmed by their families, friends, leaders, colleagues, and significant others, contributing to positive career perceptions, which are essential for enhancing NPPB (Hu and Liu, 2014; Polat and Terzi, 2021; Sen and Yildirim, 2023). Therefore, nursing managers should provide systematic organizational support to help nurses cope with the job stress faced while caring for patients with GC, establish flexible scheduling to allow them to build social support networks with friends and family amidst their busy work, encourage them to participate in GC-related charitable activities to gain support from others, and encourage nurses to share their work experiences with relatives and family members to benefit from their understanding and support. Managers should also implement measures like mindfulness interventions to improve nurses’ perception and understanding of social support, which can help them identify positive aspects of their work and alleviate the psychological distress and heavy workload.

Secondly, the mediation of self-efficacy between job stress and NPPB was found to be insignificant, contrary to the study of Cabrera-Aguilar et al. (2023). Hypothesis 5 and 7 were therefore not supported. Successful experiences are crucial for self-efficacy development (Bandura, 1986). The nurses we analyzed in this study had around 10 years of experience caring for GC patients. They had accumulated a wealth of work experience and accomplishments, having established a high and consistent sense of self-efficacy, they could effectively manage job stress, so the usual tasks of caring for patients with GC did not significantly affect their self-efficacy. However, the present study only examined the level of job stress and did not consider the severity and duration of the stressful events; ultimately, the mediating role of self-efficacy between job stress and NPPB may not be fully ascertainable.

Thirdly, this study offers novel insights into how perceived social support and self-efficacy mediate the association between job stress and NPPB, confirming hypothesis 6, 8, 9. Similar to prior research (Li et al., 2021; Lu et al., 2023). Nurses with high perceived social support are more inclined to perceive and accept social support when experiencing job stress while caring for patients with GC. And they are better at using social support to manage job stress (Cohen and Wills, 1985; Geuzinge et al., 2020). Meanwhile, nurses maintain contact with their family, friends, colleagues, and leaders, perceiving support in various social relationships (Sarason et al., 1991). This not only contributes to positive emotional experiences and mastery of alternative experiences, but also stimulates social persuasion, all of which contribute to improving self-efficacy (Bandura et al., 1997). Bandura et al. (1997) maintained that self-efficacy is crucial for motivation, behavior, and personal development. Individuals with high self-efficacy believe that positive outcomes can be achieved through problem solving and goal setting, and they often use problem-focused coping strategies (Cabrera-Aguilar et al., 2023). The study of Zhou et al. (2023) suggested the effectiveness of such strategies for nurses facing challenges in caring for patients with GC. To address challenges, nurses have employed various coping strategies, such as implementing evidence-based practices through critical utilization of new knowledge and enhancing their ability to communicate effectively (Kobleder et al., 2017). In addressing challenges and delivering care, nurses find fulfillment and value in supporting patients with GC, which in turn improves their NPPB (Zhou et al., 2023). Therefore, nursing managers should provide their staff with positive feedback and support, encourage nurses experienced in caring for patients with GC to assist their younger peers, and offer learning opportunities to enhance their nursing capability and confidence, ultimately enhancing their NPPB.

This study found that job stress, perceived social support, and self-efficacy directly or indirectly influence NPPB. Job stress negatively affects NPPB. Perceived social support can mediate the relationship between job stress and NPPB independently, while the combined mediation of perceived social support and self-efficacy also plays a role in how job stress affects NPPB. This paper presents new findings and offers a fresh perspective on enhancing the NPPB among nurses caring for patients with GC. It is essential for nursing managers to alleviate nurses’ job stress, provide sufficient and effective social support and improve their self-efficacy, ultimately enhancing their NPPB.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The studies involving humans were approved by the current study received approval from the Ethics Committee of Anhui Medical University (ethical approval number: 84230015). The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation was not required from the participants or the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin in accordance with the national legislation and institutional requirements.

YZ: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Validation, Supervision, Software, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization. XM: Writing – original draft, Software, Data curation. LZ: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Supervision, Methodology.