Suicide risk among nursing professionals: A cross-sectional study in university hospitals in the far south of Brazil

Aldrighi, Laíne Bertinetti; Jardim, Vanda Maria da Rosa

doi:10.1590/2317-6369/04724pt2025v50e16

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Research article • Rev. bras. saúde ocup. 50 • 2025 • https://doi.org/ linkcopy

Suicide risk among nursing professionals: A cross-sectional study in university hospitals in the far south of Brazil

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective To identify the prevalence of suicide risk and associated factors among nursing professionals in university hospitals in the far south of Brazil.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with nursing professionals from two federal university hospitals who responded to an online questionnaire containing sociodemographic, economic, health and behavioral questions, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to assess suicide risk. Multivariable analysis was conducted using Poisson regression.

Results A total of 581 professionals participated, with 84.9% being female. The prevalence of suicide risk was 8.8%. The adjusted analysis showed an association of suicide risk with: smoking (PR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.09;3.53), self-reported depression (PR: 3.42; 95% CI: 2.03;5.79), history of childhood abuse/violence (PR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.37;3.85), and the desire to change professions (PR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.22;4.04). As a protective factor, family income between R$ 5,001 and R$ 13,000 (PR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26:0.73).

Conclusion The multi-factors for suicide risk stand out, including childhood situations, lower income, mental illness, limitations and suffering in the work process, and the need for actions to support and strengthen the health of nursing professionals.

Nursing Team; Hospitals; Suicide; Occupational Health; Cross-Sectional Studies

Variable	n	%	Crude PR (95%CI)	Adjusted PR (95%CI)
Sex
Male	88	7.9	1	-
Female	493	8.9	1.12 (0.52;2.41)
Age
22 to 40 years old	290	7.2	1	1
41 to 68 years old	291	10.3	1.42 (0.83;2.43)	1.30 (0.71;2.38) ^µ
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	539	8.2	1	1
LGBTQIA+**	42	16.7	2.04 (0.98;4.25)	1.21 (0.56;2.60) ^µ
Self-declared skin color
Black/Brown	137	5.8	1	1
White	444	9.7	1.29 (0.89;1.86)	1.26 (0.88;1.81) ^µ
Marital status
With a partner	360	7.8	1
No partner***	221	10.4	1.34 (0.79;2.26)
Education
High school and technical	172	11.0	1	-
Higher education/postgraduate****	409	7.8	0.71 (0.41;1.21)
Religious belief
No	130	5.4	1	1
Yes	451	9.7	1.81 (0.84;3.93)	1.56 (0.71;3.40) ^µ
Children
No	146	11.0	1	-
Yes	435	8.0	0.73 (0.42;1.29)
Individual income
3 to 5 thousand reais	319	10.7	1	-
> 5 to 13 thousand reais	262	6.5	0.61 (0.35;1.07)
Family income
3 to 5 thousand reais	246	13.4	1	1
> 5 to 13 thousand reais	335	5.4	0.40 (0.23;0.69)*	0.44 (0.26;0.73)*
House
Owned	218	6.9	1	1
Financed/rented/loaned	363	9.9	1.09 (0.95;1.26)	1.05 (0.92;1.21) ^µ

Variable	n	%	Gross PR (95%CI)	Adjusted PR (95%CI)
Smoking
No/ex-smoker	522	7.7	1	1
Yes	59	18.6	2.43 (1.32;4.48)*	1.95 (1.09;3.53)*
Drinking alcohol
No	330	9.1	1	-
Yes	251	8.4	0.92 (0.54;1.57)
Sleep quality
Good/very good	342	7.3	1	-
Bad/very bad	239	10.9	1.22 (0.94;1.58)
Self-reported anxiety
No	435	5.5	1	-
Yes	146	18.5	3.35 (1.99;5.62)*
Self-reported depression
No	508 73	5.3	1	1
Yes		32.9	6.19 (3.78;10.12)*	3.42 (2.03;5.79)*
Use of psychotropic drugs	503
No	78	6.0	1	-
Yes		26.9	4.51 (2.72;7.47)*
Frequency of physical activity	264
Do not exercise	140	10.6	1	-
1-2 times/week	177	10.7	1.01 (0.56;1.82)
≥ 3 times/week		4.5	0.43 (0.20;0.91)*
Childhood abuse and/or aggression	463
No	118	6.1	1	1
Yes		19.5	3.22 (1.93;5.39)*	2.30 (1.37;3.85)*
Family mental disorder case	362
No	219	7.2	1	-
Yes		11.4	1.59 (0.94;2.68)
Self-perception of quality of life	213
Poor/regular	368	14.6	1	1
Good/very good		5.4	0.61 (0.47;0.80)*	0.86 (0.63;1.16) ^µ
Self-perception of health	179
Poor/regular	402	16.2	1	-
Good/very good	402	5.5	0.34 (0.20;0.57)*

Variable	n	%	Crude PR (95%CI)	Adjusted PR (95%CI)
Position held
Nursing assistant	61	6.6	1	-
Nursing technician	290	10.0	1.52 (0.55;4.18)
Nurse	230	7.8	1.19 (0.42;3.40)
Weekly workload (n= 568)
30 h	107	4.7	1	1
≥ 36 h	461	10.0	2.13 (0.87;5.24)	1.47 (0.56;3.90) ^µ
Job satisfaction
No	41	17.1	1	-
Yes	540	8.1	0.48 (0.22;0.99)*
Work overload
No	378	6.9	1	-
Yes	203	12.3	1.79 (1.06;3.01)*
Supervision at work
Poor/regular	196	11.2	1	-
Good	385	7.5	0.82 (0.63;1.07)
Quality of care
Poor/regular	91	13.2	1	1
Good	490	8.0	0.78 (0.57;1.05)	1.30 (0.95;1.77) ^µ
Evaluation of teamwork (n= 580)
Poor/regular	141	13.5	1	1
Good	439	7.3	0.74 (0.56;0.96)*	0.81 (0.60;1.08) ^µ
Stress at work (n= 580)
Little/moderate	315	5.4	1
High	265	12.8	1.54 (1.16;2.04)*
Having projects for work (n= 578)
Little/moderately	291	11.0	1	1
A lot	287	6.6	0.78 (0.59;1.02)	0.82(0.63;1.06)^µ
Exposure to bioburden (n= 579)
Little/moderately	165	4.8	1	1
A lot	414	10.4	1.46 (1.01;2.11)*	1.31 (0.90;1.91) ^µ
Violence in the workplace
No	465	7.5	1	-
Yes	116	13.8	1.83 (1.05;3.19)*
Desire to change workplace
No	486	7.4	1	-
Yes	95	15.8	2.13 (1.21;3.74)*
Desire to change profession
No	324	4.9	1	1
Yes	257	13.6	2.76 (1.56;4.87)*	2.23 (1.22;4.04)*

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Fundação Jorge Duprat Figueiredo de Segurança e Medicina do Trabalho - FUNDACENTRO Rua Capote Valente, 710 , 05409 002 São Paulo/SP Brasil, Tel: (55 11) 3066-6076 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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[TFN1001] %: Prevalence; PR: prevalence ratio; 95%CI: 95% confidence interval; *Statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05); **LGBTQIA+ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, queer, intersexual, asexual, pansexual, +); ***no partner (single, separated, divorced, widowed); ****PG (Postgraduate); ^µ remained in the model as an adjustment variable.

[2] Source: own elaboration.