The global healthcare workforce faces unprecedented psychological challenges, with nurses reporting disproportionately high rates of burnout, anxiety, and depression compared to other professions (1). This crisis is exacerbated by systemic pressures in modern healthcare systems, where escalating patient demands and technological advancements often prioritize service efficiency over caregiver well-being (2). With the advancement of the new medical reform, the demand for healthcare services has steadily increased. Alongside this, medical technology and nursing practices have significantly improved, gradually establishing a “patient-centered” service model (3–5). However, despite growing recognition of occupational stress as a critical determinant of nurse well-being, existing interventions often overlook the mediating role of coping strategies in mitigating mental health risks, particularly in high-stress clinical environments (6). This shift enhances patients’ access to more comfortable and satisfactory care (3–5), but it also places increased demands on clinical nurses, resulting in heightened work intensity and greater job pressure. While mild stress can enhance work efficiency and reinforce a sense of responsibility among nurses (7), sustained high levels of stress can lead to chronic fatigue, ultimately threatening nurses’ physical and mental well-being (8). Previous studies indicate that the overall mental health of nurses is significantly lower than that of the general population, with common issues including physical symptoms, depression, and anxiety (9). gradually establishingincreases, nurses’ physical and mental well-being, Additionally, nurses working in high-pressure environments—such as intensive care units, emergency departments, and surgical settings—experience considerably more stress than their counterparts in general medicine, with a corresponding decline in their mental health (10–12). The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (13) posits that stress results from an individual’s cognitive appraisal of environmental demands and their perceived coping resources. This model has been widely applied in healthcare settings, demonstrating how coping strategies can buffer the negative effects of occupational stress on mental health. Previous studies have confirmed that positive coping mechanisms, such as problem-solving and seeking social support, effectively reduce work-related stress and improve mental health outcomes among nurses (14).

Prolonged exposure to high-intensity work, combined with mental health struggles, has led to a rise in professional burnout among nurses, with an increased likelihood of turnover. This negatively impacts the quality of care and affects patient satisfaction and hospital operations (15, 16). Given that clinical nurses frequently face high work demands, their mental health often remains compromised. Emotional instability or disruption to their biological rhythms increases the likelihood of nursing errors, further compounding the problem. Therefore, addressing the mental health challenges clinical nurses face is a pressing issue (17, 18). Current efforts to address these challenges in China predominantly focus on descriptive studies, typically revolving around hospital management practices. While reforming hospital regulations is essential, it is often a complex and slow process. As such, there is a growing need for practical models to alleviate stress, helping nurses actively manage their mental health. This study aims to explore such an approach by examining the experiences of 600 clinical nurses from a higher education hospital in a Chinese city. The findings are detailed in the following report. Building on the proposed model, we hypothesize that occupational stress is positively associated with mental health issues among clinical nurses, and that coping strategies partially mediate this relationship. Specifically, we suggest that effective coping mechanisms may help alleviate some of the negative effects of occupational stress on nurses’ mental well-being. This hypothesis lays the theoretical groundwork for examining how improving coping strategies could enhance mental health outcomes for clinical nurses. The study’s findings are presented in the following report.

Our survey reveals that clinical nurses experience significant stress from multiple sources, including the inherent demands of the nursing profession, work-time allocation, workload, and patient care. In A-level hospitals, systemic factors such as low wage standards, limited career advancement, high task volumes, and restricted educational opportunities contribute substantially to nurse stress (3, 19).

Global studies further indicate that insufficient financial incentives and inadequate professional recognition exacerbate psychological distress among nurses (20). In Chinese hospitals, a pronounced shortage of nursing staff amplifies workloads and restricts opportunities for professional development, disadvantaging nurses relative to physicians (21). Additionally, inefficient time management and redundant non-medical tasks contribute to burnout and mental fatigue (22, 23). Recent research underscores the role of improved system management and process reengineering in alleviating these stressors (24).

The increased public awareness of healthcare quality has raised patient expectations, intensifying nurses’ decision-making burdens, especially in critical care environments where errors can have severe consequences (25). Current SCI evidence confirms that such high-pressure settings negatively affect both nurse well-being and patient care quality (20). Finally, the positive correlation between stress, age, and professional title suggests that cumulative workload and declining physical capacity, combined with limited growth opportunities, further drive stress among senior nurses (26). This finding is in line with global research calling for optimized work environments and fair promotion mechanisms to reduce stress and enhance professional satisfaction (12).

The concept of mental health refers to an individual’s psychological state, where their emotional and cognitive responses are balanced and adapted to environmental demands (9). In this study, clinical nurses exhibited significantly higher scores on the SCL-90 compared to Chinese norms, indicating poorer mental health among nurses. Most clinical nurses experience varying degrees of mental health challenges, which necessitates targeted interventions. This finding aligns with previous research by Zhang et, al (27), which highlighted that Chinese nurses face high professional pressures, poor mental health, and a growing need for psychological support.

Our findings validate the Transactional Model’s premise that coping strategies mediate stress-mental health relationships. The partial mediation suggests that interventions targeting adaptive coping could mitigate stress impacts. The study also found that surgical nurses scored significantly higher than both national standards and their peers in internal medicine on the SCL-90, indicating greater psychological distress. This is likely due to the nature of surgical nursing, where nurses deal with critically ill patients, high complication rates, and the rapid onset of conditions. The emotional strain of caring for patients in such dire circumstances, combined with frequent exposure to occupational hazards such as blood and bodily fluids, significantly increases the mental and physical health risks for surgical nurses (28). Similarly, nurses in intensive care units also reported elevated SCL-90 scores. ICU nurses face intensive workloads due to the high acuity of patients, the need for advanced technical skills, and the constant pressure to manage life-threatening situations. This contributes to both psychological stress and physical fatigue, which exacerbates mental health issues (29). Interestingly, the study found that senior nurses exhibited significantly higher scores across multiple dimensions of the SCL-90, including physicalization, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social sensitivity, depression, anxiety, phobia, paranoia, and general mental illness. Although senior nurses tend to have more experience and better communication skills, their inability to fully realize their career potential and the high-stress nature of their roles lead to dissatisfaction and burnout. These findings are consistent with previous studies that suggest senior nurses are often overburdened with critical care tasks and lack sufficient emotional support, leading to higher stress levels (30). Furthermore, the Pearson correlation analysis revealed that nursing profession stressors, time allocation, workload, and patient care are all positively correlated with higher SCL-90 scores, indicating a clear relationship between these factors and mental health issues. The multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that work experience and professional titles significantly affect the mental health of nurses, particularly in high-stress areas such as surgery and intensive care. These factors should be taken into account when developing interventions to improve nurse well-being.

Occupational stress is defined as the physical and psychological strain experienced by employees due to the demands of their work and their perceived inability to meet those demands. For healthcare workers, particularly nurses, the psychological pressure is amplified due to the nature of their work, which is emotionally and physically demanding. Chronic stress can lead to serious emotional issues, negatively impacting both personal well-being and job performance (30).

Coping mechanisms play a crucial role in how nurses respond to stress. The study found significant differences in how various coping strategies affected stress levels. Nurses who employed positive psychological coping strategies were less affected by work pressure, whereas those who used negative coping mechanisms experienced higher stress levels (7). This suggests that when clinical nurses face high-intensity stress, adopting positive coping strategies—such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and seeking social support—can effectively mitigate negative emotions and improve overall mental health. Conversely, negative coping mechanisms, such as avoidance or emotional suppression, can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, exacerbating stress and negatively affecting both mental health and job performance (31).

Integrating modern psychological stress theory, we can view coping strategies as mediating factors between stress and mental health outcomes. Effective coping can enhance nurses’ problem-solving abilities, emotional regulation, and overall psychological adaptation, thereby improving their resilience in stressful work environments (32). Nurses should be encouraged to adopt positive coping strategies, engage in continuous learning and professional development, and maintain regular self-care practices to improve their mental well-being (33). These strategies are essential for promoting a healthier work environment and reducing burnout (34).

This study has several limitations that warrant consideration. First, despite efforts to stratify sampling by department and years of service, the reliance on convenience sampling within tertiary hospitals may introduce selection bias, as nurses who voluntarily participated might systematically differ from non-participants in stress perception or coping behaviors. Second, while hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were employed to address variable complexity, the cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences, and unmeasured confounders may influence outcomes. Third, the proposed stress reduction model, though validated in high-stress departments, requires cross-cultural adaptation and testing in diverse healthcare systems to ensure generalizability. Fourth, self-reported data may be susceptible to social desirability bias; future studies should integrate objective measures to triangulate findings. Lastly, while the sample size met statistical power requirements, the single-city focus limits extrapolation to rural or non-tertiary settings. To address these limitations, we recommend: (1) multi-center longitudinal studies tracking stress trajectories and coping efficacy over time; (2) mixed-methods designs combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to contextualize coping mechanisms; (3) cross-cultural validation of the decompression model across regions with varying healthcare policies; and (4) experimental trials testing targeted interventions informed by this study’s findings. Such efforts will strengthen the evidence base for nurse well-being initiatives.

Positive coping strategies, such as mindfulness and social support, were associated with lower stress levels, while negative coping mechanisms exacerbated mental health challenges. However, the study’s limited sample size calls for further multi-center research to capture a more representative view. To improve nurse well-being and reduce burnout, it is essential to foster supportive work environments, promote positive coping strategies, and provide opportunities for professional development.

Our study found that clinical nurses in China experience considerable psychological distress as a result of their work, which significantly impacts their overall health and job satisfaction. The results also suggest that the use of positive psychological stress relief models can effectively alleviate stress, reduce physical and mental fatigue, and improve coping strategies. We recommend that hospitals prioritize implementing these models and invest in enhancing nurses’ psychological health to improve work efficiency and the quality of care provided. Future studies should explore the development of more targeted interventions for specific departments or stressors.