Correlation of X or Y type of nurses and their coworkers' preferences with their working attitudes

This study was carried out for the purpose of determining the correlation between nurses' tendency to assumptions of the McGregor X or Theory Y, co-worker's preferences and working attitudes. Target population of the study consisted of nurses working in a medical faculty hospital, three public hospitals and two private hospitals. 280 nurses who were older than 18 years, had been performing the profession of nursing for at least six months, accepted to participate in the study and filled in the questionnaire form thoroughly constituted the study sample. Data were collected using questions about socio-demographic, personal and professional characteristics of the participants, a measurement tool based on the McGregor Theory X/Y, "Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) Scale" and a question form consisting of the "Working Attitude Scale (WAS)". Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) 2007 program. The study data were evaluated using: normality analysis, descriptive statistics, validity and reliability analyses, chi-square analysis, significance tests of the difference between dual and multiple groups and multiple group modellings for the correlation and moderator/regulatory effect. It was determined %47,1 of the nurses who participated in the study were in the age range of 25-34 years, %83,9women, %67,1 bachelor, %57,5 worked in a public hospital, %63,9 were staffed nurse, %78,2 service nurse, %40 had been working in the profession of nursing for 0-5 years, %70 worked in day/night shifts and %44,3 had a monthly income of 2501-5000 Turkish Liras (TL). %20 of the nurses did not consider quitting their job and %68,9 stated that some of their co-worker's spoiled the team work. It was determined that the nurses had moderate levels of perception concerning the presence of team work, satisfaction with team work, satisfaction with co-workers and job satisfaction and higher levels of work load perception and work-related stress perception. Examining the interrelation of the three measurement tools used in the study; it was determined that there was no significant correlation between the total score of the LPC scale and assumptions of the Theory Y, whereas there was a negatively significant and weak correlation with assumptions of the Theory X. Examining the interrelation of the LPC scale and the WAS scale; it was determined that there was no statistically significant correlation between the total score of the LPC scale and the WAS Mystic Oriented-Submissive, Easy Earning Oriented-Hedonist, Work Oriented-Ascetic and the total working attitude scores (p>0,05). Working on the language, content and construct validity of the LPC scale; it was found that the scale was a reliable instrument in accordance with the literature. It was seen that the nurses who had a tendency to assumptions of the Theory X adopted the Easy Earning Oriented-Hedonist Working Attitude, whereas the nurses who had a tendency to assumptions of the Theory Y receded from the Easy Earning Oriented-Hedonist Working Attitude and adopted the Work Oriented-Ascetic Working Attitude. Key Words: Nursing, X or Y type, Co-worker preferred, Work attitude