Abstract

This study examined the differential and mediating effects of three types of work-related stressors: critical events,
hassles and role stressors – on nurses' levels of distress at two points in time during their first hospital-based job.
Role stressors were hypothesized to fully mediate the effects of hassles and partially mediate the effects of
critical events on distress at both Time 1 and Time 2. We also hypothesized that critical events and role stressors,
as well as role stressors and distress, would reciprocally influence each other across time. The findings provided
full support for the first expectation and partial support for the second. The current study is the first to clarify the
nature of the relationships among the three types of stressors, thus adding to our theoretical reasoning concerning
their interrelationships and clarifying for practitioners the critically important types of stressors in terms of their
effects on aspects of mental health.

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