Disaster Anxiety Impacts Nurses' Willingness to Work During Disasters

Strategic Insights -

Research from Ordu University suggests that disaster anxiety can significantly impair nurses' willingness to work during disaster response situations. The study found that disaster response self-efficacy plays a crucial mediating role in this relationship, influencing nurses' confidence in their ability to respond effectively during disasters. While disaster response self-efficacy can mitigate the adverse effects of disaster anxiety, it does not fully reverse them.

Key Takeaways:

  • Disaster anxiety negatively affects nurses' willingness to work during disasters, with a significant correlation coefficient of -0.219.
  • Disaster response self-efficacy is positively associated with willingness to work during disasters, with a correlation coefficient of 0.178.
  • The total effect of disaster anxiety on willingness to work, mediated by disaster response self-efficacy, is -0.161.
  • The study involved a cross-sectional and descriptive design, collecting data from 273 nurses through validated scales and a single-item measure for willingness to work in disasters.
  • National and institutional health and nursing policies should focus on reducing disaster anxiety and strengthening nurses' disaster preparedness to ensure effective disaster relief and response.

Statistics:

  • 273 nurses participated in the study, representing a university hospital in Turkiye.
  • Disaster anxiety negatively influenced disaster response self-efficacy by -0.110.
  • The Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale, Disaster Anxiety Scale, and a single-item measure for willingness to work in disasters were used to collect data.
  • The PROCESS Model 4 was used to assess mediation effects, revealing a significant mediating role of disaster response self-efficacy.

Sources:

  • The mediating role of disaster response self-efficacy in the effect of disaster anxiety on the willingness to work in disasters among the nurses. BMC Nursing, 2025,24(1):1-8.
  • The publisher for BMC Nursing is BCM.
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03564-1.
  • NewsRx. Research Reports on Anxiety Disorders from Ordu University Provide New Insights (The mediating role of disaster response self-efficacy in the effect of disaster anxiety on the willingness to work in disasters among the nurses). Health & Medicine Week. September 5, 2025; p 5097.