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The association between emotional intelligence and burnout among Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Nurse burnout is a widespread global occupational health challenge in healthcare. However, the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and burnout remains relatively under-investigated within China’s collectivist cultural context. What is the magnitude and direction of the association between EI and burnout among nurses in Chinese tertiary hospitals? Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 308 eligible nurses from a Chinese tertiary hospital, using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results Participants had moderate-to-high EI levels, with a mean total WLEIS score of 82.24 ± 15.06. The overall prevalence of clinically significant burnout was 65.3%, with 58.44% of participants reporting high emotional exhaustion, 48.05% high depersonalization, and 42.86% low personal accomplishment. EI was significantly inversely correlated with emotional exhaustion ( r = −0.35, p < 0.01) and depersonalization ( r = −0.23, p < 0.01), and significantly positively correlated with personal accomplishment ( r = 0.50, p < 0.01). Furthermore, EI was independently associated with all three burnout dimensions ( β = −0.39, −0.28, 0.53; R 2 = 0.20, 0.16, 0.41; all p < 0.01). Conclusion EI is significantly associated with all three burnout dimensions among Chinese tertiary hospital nurses, providing preliminary evidence for EI-focused burnout mitigation strategies and related research in the Chinese context.
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1803470
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7154097613
FWCI: 35.29
Cites: 68
Cited by: 2
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