Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41672960›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Thriving in Nursing Work: The Association Between Self-Reports and Biomarkers of Stress, Inflammation and Neuroplasticity.

Judith E Arnetz, Eamonn Arble, Jackeline Iseler, Michelle Pena, Nicolina Evola, John Vanschagen, John S Beck, Scott E Counts, Bengt B Arnetz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Judith E ArnetzDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Eamonn ArbleDepartment of Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA.
Jackeline IselerTrinity Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Michelle PenaTrinity Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Nicolina EvolaTrinity Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
John VanschagenDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
John S BeckDepartment of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Scott E CountsDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Bengt B ArnetzDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7173-4333

Funding

Contributory Research Funds, Trinity Health, Grand Rapids
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo examine whether self-reported thriving at work is associated with biomarkers of stress, inflammation, neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration in nurses.

designA cross-sectional study.

methodsAn online questionnaire measuring thriving at work was administered to nurses in a teaching hospital in Michigan, U.S. over 5 weeks in 2024. A subsample of 100 questionnaire respondents provided blood samples for biomarker analysis. Multiple regression was used to identify self-reported and biomarker predictors of nurse thriving. Cluster analysis was used to distinguish between nurses with high and low levels of thriving based on a combination of self-report and biomarker data.

resultsHigher self-reports of individual and work-related resources predicted higher thriving. Cortisol, a stress hormone, was significantly and inversely associated with thriving. No blood-based biomarkers of inflammation or neuroplasticity predicted thriving. Neurofilament light chain, a marker of neurodegeneration, was not a direct predictor but modified the effects of interpersonal and work resources on thriving.

conclusionBiological markers do play a role in nurses' thriving at work and may contribute important complementary information to that provided by nurse self-reports. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Nurses thrive in a work situation characterised by positive reports of individual, interpersonal and work resources and lower levels of stress. Efforts to enhance thriving could positively impact nurses' well-being and conditions for providing high-quality patient care. IMPACT: This study addressed the question of whether self-reported thriving at work among nurses is reflected in biomarkers of stress, inflammation, and neurocognitive health. A profile of high self-reported work-related resources and low cortisol distinguished higher levels of nurses' thriving from lower levels. Organisational efforts to enhance nurses' thriving can positively impact nurses' health, their work environment, and patient care. REPORTING

methodWe followed the STROBE checklist in reporting this study. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or public contribution.

Indexed as

BiomarkersInflammationNeuronal PlasticityNursing Staff, HospitalOccupational StressStress, PsychologicalAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansHydrocortisoneMaleMichiganMiddle AgedSelf ReportSurveys and QuestionnairesBiomarkersHydrocortisonebiomarkerscluster analysiscortisolnursingquestionnairethriving

Identifiers

PMID41672960
PMCPMC13576873

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.