OBJECTIVETo study the effects of coping resources on nurses' strain.

METHODSCoping resources (recreation, self-care, social support, and rational coping) and strain (vocational strain, psychological strain, interpersonal strain, and physical strain) were measured on 387 nurses with personal resources questionnaire (PRQ) and personal strain questionnaire (PSQ).

RESULTSThe higher the nurses' coping resources were, the lower their strain was (P<0.01). Nurses' coping resources had a negative correlation with their strain and had the closest relation with their psychological strain (P<0.01). Among coping resources, social support was closest related with nurses' strain. In the items of social support, those related to feeling support had more remission on strain. In the items of rational coping, those related to keeping good mind had more remission on strain, while doing more than one job at one time could raise nurses' strain (P<0.05). In the items of self-care, those related to good healthy habit, being immersed in contemplation and sufficient sleeping had the most effects on the remission of strain. In the items of recreation, those related to enough rest and self-determination had more effects on the remission of strain, while doing other things in most of leisure time had a positive correlation with strain (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEnhancing coping resources, especially feeling support, keeping good mind, sufficient sleeping and rest, are the important measures for the remission of nurses' strain.