Work Stress, Coping Mechanisms, and Job Retention Among Nurses in Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals: A Gender Comparative Analysis

This study empirically examines the relationships among work stress, coping mechanisms, and job retention among nurses in Nigerian tertiary hospitals, with a gender comparative analytical focus. Data were collected from nurses at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, representing the South West and North West geopolitical zones respectively. The massive outflow of Nigerian nurses through international migration makes retention a public health emergency, and understanding its occupational stress antecedents is a research imperative. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with 285 nurses completing validated instruments including the Nursing Stress Scale, the Brief COPE Inventory, and the Job Retention Index. Hierarchical regression analysis with gender as a moderator was applied. Lazarus and Folkman's Stress-Coping Theory provides the primary theoretical anchor. Findings confirm that work stress is a significant negative predictor of job retention intent, with workload overload and inadequate management support as the most powerful stress dimensions. Problem-focused coping significantly moderates the stress-retention relationship, reducing resignation intent even among highly stressed nurses, while emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies do not demonstrate significant buffering effects. Female nurses experience significantly higher emotional exhaustion scores than their male counterparts, but also demonstrate stronger social support-seeking coping behaviours. The study addresses the research gap of gender comparative coping analysis in Nigerian healthcare HR literature. Recommendations include structured nurse wellness programs, manageable patient-to-nurse ratios, and coping skills training. Keywords: work stress, coping mechanisms, nurse retention, gender, Nigerian tertiary hospitals