The mediating role of social support in the relationship between nurses' psychological capital and depression during public health emergencies in tertiary medical institutions.

objectiveTo explore the effect of social support in nurses who have depression during public health emergencies in tertiary medical institutions.

methodsThis retrospective analysis was conducted in Wuhan from July 2021 to December 2021. We distributed a self-made demographic questionnaire, Depression Scale (CES-D 10), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24) through Questionnaire Star, and conducted a questionnaire survey with nurses in multiple tertiary medical institutions during the public health emergency in Wuhan. At the same time, a questionnaire survey was conducted with the general population during the public health emergency in Wuhan through the Self-made demographic questionnaire and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) issued by questionnaire star. In the end, 1052 valid questionnaires were obtained, including 526 valid questionnaires for nurses and 526 valid questionnaires for the general population. The social support scores of nurses and the general population were analyzed. The association between social support and nurse depression was analyzed by multiple linear regression. The asymptotic policy was used to examine social support as a potential mediator of the association between psychological capital and depressive symptoms.

resultsThere were no remarkable differences in age, marital condition, monthly revenue, professional title, occupational condition, smoking, and drinking among nurses (all

conclusionsSocial support is a key external intervention factor to alleviate nurses' depressive symptoms, and psychological capital is a key internal positive psychological support resource to combat nurses' depressive symptoms. Social support can increase the influence of psychological capital on depressive symptoms.