The Relationship Between Subjective Happiness and Emotional Reactivity in Nurses: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim This study was conducted to examine the relationship between nurses' emotional reactivity and subjective happiness levels. Method This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 384 nurses via an online survey between August and October 2022. Data were collected using the "Personal Information Form, Emotional Reactivity Scale (ERS) and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)". Independent groups t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses were used to evaluate the data. Results The nurses' total ERS score average was determined as 37.82 ± 7.61, and the SHS score average was determined as 17.19 ± 4.54. The units where nurses work and their job satisfaction significantly affect their emotional reactivity levels, and significant differences were found especially among those working in surgical clinics and emergency services (p = 0.001). In addition, a negative moderate correlation (r=-0.471, p < 0.001) was found between emotional reactivity and subjective happiness. Conclusion It was determined that the subjective happiness of nurses with low emotional reactivity and emotional sensitivity was high. This finding shows that emotional awareness and emotion regulation can positively affect nurses' job satisfaction and general happiness levels. In light of these findings, the subjective happiness levels of nurses can be increased with emotional awareness and emotion regulation trainings to be given to nurses.