Sickness Presenteeism Among Iranian Nurses: A Holistic Nursing Perspective on Burnout, Social Support, and Health-Related Productivity Loss
Behnaz Bagherian, Homayoon Kazemy, Sina Shahmohammadi, Alireza GilaniBackground
Sickness presenteeism, defined as attending work despite health problems that would justify sickness absence, is an important concern in holistic nursing because nurses’ wellbeing is inseparable from sustainable caring practice.
Purpose
This exploratory study examined associations among sickness presenteeism, burnout, perceived social support, and health-related productivity loss among nurses working in teaching hospitals in Iran.
Methods
A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted with 60 nurses working in emergency, intensive care, cardiac care, and medical wards of three teaching hospitals affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic and occupational questionnaire, the Sickness Presenteeism Questionnaire, the Stanford Presenteeism Scale-6, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Social Provisions Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and exploratory regression analyses were used.
Results
The mean sickness presenteeism score was 6.28 ± 1.32, suggesting frequent self-reported sickness presenteeism. Sickness presenteeism was not significantly associated with burnout, perceived social support, or health-related productivity loss. Employment status significantly predicted burnout, and age significantly predicted health-related productivity loss.
Conclusion
Findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Sickness presenteeism among nurses may reflect tensions among self-care, professional obligation, relational expectations, and organizational conditions. Holistic nursing approaches should address both individual self-care and healing work environments that support rest, recovery, dignity, and sustainable caring.