Psychosocial Predictors of Job Satisfaction in Nursing: Insights from a Spanish Hospital Setting

Abstract

Nurses play a key role in healthcare systems, yet their job satisfaction is often challenged by factors such as emotional exhaustion and organisational dynamics. This study examines the relationship between psychological empowerment, affective commitment, and emotional exhaustion as predictors of job satisfaction in a sample of 150 Spanish nurses. Data were collected using validated questionnaires measuring these constructs, and mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro. Results indicated that psychological empowerment positively influenced job satisfaction both directly and indirectly through affective commitment. However, emotional exhaustion did not significantly mediate this relationship, suggesting that contextual factors such as workload may override its effects. This research contributes to the understanding of job satisfaction among healthcare professionals and highlights the importance of empowerment and affective engagement. Practical implications for hospital management include fostering psychological empowerment through organisational strategies that promote autonomy, competence, and meaningful involvement, which could improve nurses’ well-being and organisational performance.