Adversity quotient level and its relationship with nurse burnout

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the relationship between adversity quotient (AQ) and nurse burnout in a clinical setting, addressing the need for psychological resilience strategies in nursing practice.
METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 102 nurses working in inpatient wards at a public hospital in Central Java, Indonesia. Data were collected using the Adversity Response Profile (ARP) to assess AQ and the Burnout Syndrome Assessment Scale for Nurses to measure burnout levels. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the two variables.
RESULTS: The majority of nurses had low AQ levels (43.1%) and experienced severe burnout (41.2%). A significant negative correlation was found between AQ and burnout (r=-0.775, p<0.0001), indicating that higher AQ was associated with lower levels of nurse burnout.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: AQ plays a protective role against nurse burnout. Enhancing AQ through structured interventions may help reduce emotional exhaustion and improve psychological well-being in demanding healthcare environments. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of AQ-based training in clinical settings.

Keywords: Adversity quotient, nurse burnout, psychological well-being, resilience, nursing