Factors affecting occupational burnout in medical staff: a path analysis based on the job demands-resources perspective

Zuolin Wei; Bocheng Xia; Lingli Jiang; Huaiyi Zhu; Lingyan Li; Lin Wang; Jun Zhao; Ruoxin Fan; Peng Wang; Mingjin Huang

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1490171

Factors affecting occupational burnout in medical staff: a path analysis based on the job demands-resources perspective

Front Psychiatry. 2024 Oct 21:15:1490171. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1490171. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Zuolin Wei^{1

2}, Bocheng Xia^{1

2}, Lingli Jiang^{1

2}, Huaiyi Zhu^{1

2}, Lingyan Li^{1

2}, Lin Wang^{1

2}, Jun Zhao², Ruoxin Fan², Peng Wang², Mingjin Huang²

Affiliations

¹ School of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
² The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, Sichuan, China.

Abstract

Objective: To assess occupational burnout conditions and work-related factors among frontline medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyse the relationships among these factors utilizing the job demands-resources (JD-R) model as a theoretical framework.

Methods: An online survey was distributed to medical staff in one city via convenience sampling during 12/29/2022-1/10/2023. Path analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between work-related factors and occupational burnout among frontline medical staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Results: Among 474 respondents, 455 frontline medical staff (female=79.56%) were included in the final analysis. Medical staff aged <35 exhibited higher levels of occupational burnout than did older staff. Depression/anxiety and workload were positively correlated with occupational burnout and negatively correlated with self-compassion, workplace health/safety, and workplace support. Path analysis indicated the direct effects of workplace support, depression/anxiety, workplace health/safety, self-compassion, and workload on occupational burnout. There were also partial mediating effects of workplace support, depression/anxiety, workplace health/safety, and self-compassion on occupational burnout. The model demonstrated good fit.

Conclusion: Workplace support, a crucial job resource, can improve occupational burnout among frontline medical staff in various ways. Reducing anxiety, depression, and workload and improving workplace support, health/safety, and self-compassion are practical and effective measures for mitigating occupational burnout.

Keywords: COVID-19; burnout; job demands-resources; medical staff; workplace support.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the research project fund of Mianyang Science and Technology Bureau(2020YJKY005).