Occupational mental health: a study of work-related depression among nurses in the Caribbean

This study addresses issues of occupational mental health among nurses in the Caribbean. A linear model linking role, work and social factors, stress, burnout, depression, absenteeism and turnover intention guides the research. Data were collected from 119 nurses working for major hospitals located in St. Vincent and Trinidad & Tobago using a field survey. Psychometrically sound instruments with proven cross-cultural validity were utilized in the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and path analysis were used to analyze the data. The results indicated fairly strong support for the proposed model which is tested for the first time among a Caribbean population. Role conflict, role overload and social support predicted stress, which along with social support predicted burnout. Burnout was the sole predictor of depression which in turn predicted both absenteeism and turnover intention. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.