Mediating Role of Health Anxiety in the Relationship between Feelings of Loneliness and Personality Traits among Nurses

Background: Health anxiety has been correlated with life satisfaction, personality, and alexithymia in junior college nursing students. Objectives: The present study sought to provide a model of the relationship between feelings of loneliness and personality traits with the mediating role of health anxiety among nurses. Methods: According to the data collection method, this research was part of a descriptive-correlational study performed using path analysis. The statistical population included all nurses at Ibn Sina, Omid, and Erfan hospitals in Tehran in 2022. A total of 300 nurses were selected via the convenience sampling method and completed the Loneliness Scale, The Five-Factor Personality Inventory, and Short Health Anxiety Inventory. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and Smart PLS3. Results: The results demonstrated that extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness had a direct impact on health anxiety and loneliness (P<0.05). The mediating role of health anxiety was confirmed in the link between extroversion and loneliness, as well as between agreeableness and loneliness (P<0.05). Nonetheless, the indirect effect of conscientiousness on loneliness through health anxiety was found to be non-significant (P<0.05). Overall, the model showed a good fit, indicating that personality traits and health anxiety play a significant role in determining nurses' feelings of loneliness (P<0.05). Conclusion: A thorough understanding of health-related aspects of nurses can assist mental health researchers and managers in developing and implementing precise and efficient psychosocial interventions.

Mediating Role of Health Anxiety in the Relationship between Feelings of Loneliness and Personality Traits among Nurses Keywords:

Health anxiety , Loneliness , Nurses , personality traits