Resilience, Quality of Life, and Minor Mental Disorders in Nursing Professionals: A Study in Challenging Work Environments

Introduction: The mental health of nursing professionals is an escalating global concern, particularly due to the inherently challenging work conditions they frequently encounter. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Minor Mental Disorders (MMD) and resilience levels among nursing professionals, analyzing the relationship between these constructs and identifying resilience’s potential protective role. Methods: This was a quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 203 nursing professionals (including nursing assistants, technicians, and nurses) from two healthcare institutions in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected between August and October 2019. Instruments utilized included a sociodemographic and professional questionnaire, the Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) for MMD screening, and the Wagnild & Young Resilience Scale. Results: The overall prevalence of MMD in the studied sample was 31.0%. Mean scores for the SRQ-20 domains were observed as follows: Depressive/Anxious Mood (1.33), Somatic Symptoms (1.63), Reduced Vital Energy (1.77), and Depressive Thoughts (0.39). A key finding indicated that resilience did not demonstrate a significant direct predictive role on MMDs when the effect of quality of life was controlled. However, resilience showed a significant positive correlation with Quality of Life (QoL) (coef. = 0.515; p < 0.001). Furthermore, QoL emerged as a robust and statistically significant negative association with all dimensions of MMD. Discussion: These findings suggest that resilience may function as an indirect moderator or precursor to QoL, with QoL, in turn, exerting a more direct and substantial influence on the reduction of MMDs. This integrated perspective aligns with the understanding that resilience contributes to a more adaptive assessment of stressors and, consequently, to better QoL, thereby minimizing the detrimental effects of stress on mental health. Conclusion: This study reaffirms the high prevalence of Minor Mental Disorders among nursing professionals, highlighting Quality of Life as a primary target for interventions aimed at promoting mental well-being. It also emphasizes resilience as a valuable individual resource that indirectly supports mental health by enhancing QoL. A holistic understanding of occupational stressors, psychosocial, and biological mechanisms is crucial for developing effective and targeted support strategies for these essential professionals.