The Influence of Achievement Motivation on Nurses' Health-Related Procrastination: The Mediating Role of Social Support.

aimsThe primary aim of this study is to examine the mechanisms linking achievement motivation (including motive for success (MS) and motive to avoid failure (MF)) and social support to nurses' health-related procrastination (NHRP) and to determine whether social support plays a mediating role in this relationship.

backgroundThe health of nurses has long been a subject of widespread concern. Compared with general procrastination, NHRP is more directly linked to their health issues, which not only harms their own well-being but may also affect nursing quality and patient safety. Exploring its intrinsic mechanisms with achievement motivation and social support from the perspective of positive psychology is essential for developing effective strategies to reduce NHRP and serves as a cornerstone for ensuring nursing quality and patient safety.

methodsFrom February to July 2025, 346 samples of nurses from first-class comprehensive hospital in Shanghai were selected as participants. The mediating effect of social support on achievement motivation and the NHRP was investigated via the General Data Questionnaire, Nurses' Health-related Procrastination Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and Achievement Motivation Scale. The mediation effects were tested using the PROCESS macro (Version 4.0), which utilizes linear regression analysis and the bootstrap method.

resultsA total of 320 valid questionnaires were collected, yielding an effective response rate of 92.47%. The results indicated that social support was positively correlated with MS (r = 0.339, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with both MF (r = -0.283, p < 0.01) and NHRP (r = -0.482, p < 0.01). Furthermore, NHRP was negatively correlated with MS (r = -0.433, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with MF (r = 0.397, p < 0.01). Notably, social support was found to partially mediate the relationship between achievement motivation and NHRP. The specific mediating effects of social support were significant, with indirect effect values of -0.468 between MS and NHRP and 0.422 between MF and NHRP, accounting for 31.0% and 29.8% of the total effects, respectively.

conclusionAchievement motivation can directly influence NHRP and can also indirectly affect it through the mediating role of social support. From the perspective of positive psychology, stimulating nurses' achievement motivation regarding their own health responsibility and fostering a supportive organizational atmosphere can effectively reduce their health-related procrastination, thereby laying a foundation for enhancing overall nursing service quality. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing managers should pay attention to nurses' physical and mental health and actively identify and guide the orientation of their achievement motivation: on the one hand, cultivate their positive motivation for "striving for success," and on the other hand, alleviate the anxiety stemming from "fear of failure," thereby fostering the formation of health behaviors through intrinsic mechanisms. Furthermore, it is essential to consciously build a team atmosphere with high social support and to reduce NHRP by establishing effective peer support systems and communication channels.