Job Stress, Fatigue, and Happiness among Iranian Nurses

Introduction One of the fundamental steps toward enhancing productivity in the healthcare system is identifying the causes and factors, such as fatigue, job stress, and happiness, among nursing personnel. Objective This study was conducted to determine the relationship between job stress and occupational fatigue with happiness among nurses working in hospitals affiliated with Shahroud University of Medical Sciences in 2025. Methods This cross-sectional study included 178 nurses who completed the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, the Job Stress Questionnaire, and the Occupational Fatigue Questionnaire. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. The relationships among job stress and occupational fatigue with happiness, treated as latent variables, were examined using Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM). A significance level of 0.05 was applied for all statistical tests. Results The results revealed a mean fatigue score of 91.8 ± 34.1, indicating that nurses in the study experience moderate levels of fatigue. The job stress score averaged 173.8 ± 21.2, which was notably above the typical threshold. Nurses' happiness levels, with a mean score of 69.7 ± 12.9, were influenced by factors such as marital status and work experience. The analysis using a Generalized Structural Equation Model (GSEM) showed a strong positive correlation between job stress and occupational fatigue. In addition, the findings highlighted a significant negative relationship between fatigue and happiness scores, showing that higher levels of fatigue are associated with lower happiness. Discussion The findings reveal that nurses experience high levels of job stress, while occupational fatigue is reported at moderate levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between job stress and fatigue. Moreover, an indirect relationship was identified between these factors and nurses' happiness. These results propose that both stress and fatigue have a substantial impact on nurses' well-being, influencing their overall happiness in the workplace. Conclusion Given these findings, it is crucial to implement targeted educational programs aimed at reducing job stress and occupational fatigue among nurses. Such interventions could lead to substantial improvements in both the variables studied and the overall happiness of nursing staff, ultimately enhancing their professional satisfaction and well-being.