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The Human Face of Digitalization in Healthcare: A Mixed-Methods Study on the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Burnout

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Technological developments have profoundly transformed healthcare, compelling institutions to adapt rapidly to digital transformation. This shift has increased job pressure and uncertainty, thereby heightening the risk of burnout. Emotional intelligence (EI), as an individual capacity, plays a critical role in coping with these demands. This study examines the relationship between EI and burnout during the digital transformation process using a mixed-methods design. Specifically, it combines (1) a bibliometric analysis of 540 studies on EI and burnout (2004–2025) retrieved from the Web of Science database to identify conceptual gaps, and (2) a survey of 590 employees from four public hospitals at advanced stages of digital transformation (HIMSS Stages 6–7), analyzed with SPSS 23.0. The results reveal a significant negative correlation between EI and burnout, indicating that employees with higher EI experience lower burnout levels. Regression analyses and effect size estimates (standardized β coefficients and R2 values) further support the robustness of this relationship. Taken together, the bibliometric and empirical findings indicate that the intersection of EI and burnout constitutes an emerging yet underexplored field, particularly in digital contexts. This study contributes to the literature by integrating theoretical insights and empirical evidence to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital transformation influences healthcare professionals’ psychological well-being through the interplay of EI and burnout.

Source: Behavioral Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/bs15111505

Author: Rana Özyurt Kaptanoğlu

Institution: Istanbul Topkapi University

Language: English

Topic: Stress and Burnout Research

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654