B Vitamins, work‐related stress and emotional mental disorders: a cross‐sectional study among nurses in Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between intake of vitamins B1, B6, B9 and B12 with emotional mental disorders among nurses in Indonesia. Design This cross‐sectional study included nurses who have worked at least six months at a private hospital in Indonesia from March to April 2021. Methods We used the Food Frequency Questionnaire, Self‐Reporting Questionnaire 20 and the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale questionnaire to assess the B‐vitamin intake, emotional mental disorders and work‐related stress. Results Of 80 interviewed nurses, 8.8% experienced severe work‐related stress, and 22.5% had emotional mental disorders. Most nurses had inadequate intake of vitamins B1 and B9 but had adequate intake of vitamins B6 (72.5%) and B12 (56.3%). Emotional mental disorders are more probably to occur in nurses with less intake of vitamins B6 and B12, with respective aOR of 20.06, 95% CI 4.14–97.09 (p < .001) and 4.49, 95% CI 1.19–16.83 (p = .026).

Keywords

• B vitamins
• emotional mental disorders
• nurse
• occupation health
• stress