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Examining the relationship between nurse psychological capital and job burnout: a multilevel analysis across nurse, nurse leader, and nurse family perspectives

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Nurse job burnout is a critical issue affecting medical quality and safety. Psychological capital (PsyCap) is associated with enhanced career satisfaction and reduced work stress. This study evaluates the relationship between nurses' PsyCap and job burnout, while considering leadership and family as contextual factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used, collecting data from 499 nurses via validated questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression, were conducted to assess the relationship between PsyCap and job burnout. Leadership and family were included as contextual variables in hierarchical regression models to evaluate their indirect influences. RESULTS: Among nurses, 63.9% experienced mild to moderate burnout. The average PsyCap score was 107.88 ± 20.55. PsyCap showed a significant negative correlation with burnout dimensions (correlation coefficients: -0.43 to -0.53, p < 0.01). Higher PsyCap significantly predicted lower job burnout (β = -0.44, p < 0.01). Leadership and family influences had minor but noteworthy indirect effects on this relationship. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that higher levels of nurses' PsyCap are associated with lower levels of job burnout. While these findings highlight PsyCap's potential role in mitigating burnout, further research is needed to confirm causal relationships and assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing PsyCap and supportive environments.

Source: Human Resources for Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12960-025-00986-5