Abstract:Objective To explore the status of perceived overqualification among ICU nurses and its effect on occupational well-being, to analyze the role of relative deprivation in the relationship between perceived overqualification and occupational well-being, thus to provide reference for nursing management. Methods A total of 303 ICU nurses were selected from 3 tertiary hospitals in Shaanxi Province and were surveyed by utilizing a general information questionnaire, the 9-item Scale of Perceived Overqualification, Nurses′ Occupational Well-Being Questionnaire and Relative Deprivation Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the mediating effect, and hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect. Results The scores of perceived overqualification, occupational well-being and relative deprivation were 2.97±0.65, 4.29±0.76 and 2.96±0.71 respectively. Relative deprivation mediated the relationship between perceived overqualification and occupational well-being, with the mediating effect being -0.13 and accounting for 24.5% of the total effect. Relative deprivation was also a moderator in the relationship between perceived overqualification and occupational well-being (adjusted R2=0.051, P<0.01). Conclusion ICU nurses reported relatively low level of occupational well-being, and relative deprivation strengthened the negative effect of perceived overqualification on occupational well-being. Nursing managers should take targeted interventions to enhance nurses′ ability of emotional self-regulation, thus to promote their occupational well-being.
