The effect of effort - reward imbalance on research burnout of medical master’s students: A moderated mediation model
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Drawing on Job Demands–Resources and Conservation of Resources theories, this study examined the association between effort–reward imbalance and research burnout among Chinese medical master’s students in professional degree programs integrated with standardized residency training, testing psychological empowerment as a mediator and mentor support as a moderator. Data were collected from 455 students via an online survey and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS macro. Effort–reward imbalance was positively associated with research burnout (r=0.432, p<0.01). Psychological empowerment partially mediated this association (indirect effect=0.145, 95% CI [0.076, 0.211]). Mentor support moderated the effort–reward imbalance→psychological empowerment path (β=0.093, p<0.001) and the empowerment→burnout path (β=0.072, p<0.05). These findings suggest that research burnout is linked to effort–reward imbalance, psychological resources, and mentor support; strengthening empowerment and mentor support may improve research training quality and student wellbeing in dual clinical–research contexts.
Authors: Jiexia Zheng, Danli Cai, Peiling Zhang, Xu Dong
Institutions: Zhejiang Normal University, Wenzhou Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7225326744