The influence of work characteristics, emotional display rules and affectivity on burnout and job satisfaction: A survey among geriatric care workers

Infection Control Experiences and Educational Needs of Geriatric Care Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

In the post-COVID-19 condition, infection control education is important for geriatric care workers who care for the elderly and are vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases. This study was conducted to enhance the insight into the experiences of geriatric care workers in managing novel infectious diseases (COVID-19) and to identify the newly required educational requirements necessary to effectively implement infectious disease control.

METHODS

This is a qualitative and pilot study using focus group interviews. Data from 10 participants were collected using a focus group interview. The data were analyzed using Qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

The findings showed that geriatric healthcare workers experienced difficulties following infection control protocols and emotional distress related to visitor restrictions and had an increased workload. The participants requested further education regarding general knowledge of infectious diseases to decrease their fears of infection and reported that visual and practical teaching methods were preferable.

CONCLUSIONS

Further attention is needed regarding the education of infection control to strengthen infection prevention in long-term care facilities vulnerable to the spread of emerging infectious diseases.

Why do workers leave geriatric care, and do they come back? A timing of events study

BACKGROUND

In many industrialized countries, demographic change is accompanied by increasing demand for geriatric care workers, which in turn intensifies the need to retain them or to attract them back after leaving. Although much is known about the intention of workers to leave, little is known about how many of them actually do leave and return to geriatric care at a later stage in a comprehensive framework.

OBJECTIVE

To examine and explain how many workers withdraw from geriatric care, take up other occupations, and return to geriatric care at a later stage in their careers, and the reasons behind this.

DESIGN

This study used administrative daily data that cover all workers in Germany who started working in geriatric care in the period 1996 to 2018 and observed their employment biographies for a maximum of 26 years.

METHODS

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and parametric regression survival-time analysis were used to estimate the survival rates and to estimate individual, workplace and regional determinants of leaving and returning to geriatric care.

RESULTS

Workers in geriatric care were more likely to leave the profession than other workers, two thirds withdrew within five years of first taking up work in geriatric care. If they remained in employment, they generally chose an occupation related to geriatric care. Half of the leavers returned to geriatric care again within eight years. Individual and workplace-related factors, such as age and remuneration, are statistically significant predictors of leaving and returning.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings emphasize how important it is for organizations to keep in touch with geriatric care workers leaving their job, since a substantial share of them returns again.

Working conditions, authorizations, mental health, and job satisfaction of physician assistants in Germany

Objective

This study explores associations among the overall and facet-specific job satisfaction, work-related factors, responsibilities, and mental health of physician assistants (PAs) in Germany to identify factors that prolong the lifetime and wellbeing of PAs in practice and to counteract the shortage of healthcare staff.

Methods

An online survey comprising sociodemographic and work-related items, items from the short questionnaire of general and facet-specific job satisfaction (KAFA), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were distributed to PAs working in Germany in 2021 (cross-sectional survey design). Descriptive statistics, DASS-21 subscale score analysis, t-test, ANOVA, or Kruskal-Wallis test was used.

Results

PAs (n = 169) were working mainly in surgery (23.2%), internal medicine (20.3%), or orthopedics and trauma surgery (17.5%), whereas only a few PAs were working in emergency care, geriatrics, neurology, or oncology. They were responsible for a broad spectrum of medical activities depending on the practice setting. PAs working in emergency care claimed to be the most empowered, followed by PAs in orthopedics and surgery. Almost all PAs carried out documentation, anamnesis, and diagnostic services. Although almost all PAs rated their overall job satisfaction as good, satisfactory, or pleasant (91.6%), single facets of job satisfaction were rated differently. Colleagues and supervisors were assessed very positively, whereas payment and professional activities were rated rather average and development opportunities even worse. PAs working in oncology demonstrated the highest overall job satisfaction, followed by PAs working in geriatrics and emergency care. Overall job satisfaction was significantly negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress scores (p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.05, and p ≤ 0.05, respectively). Particularly, female gender, having an urban residence, and PAs working in oncology demonstrated significantly increased anxiety scores. Moreover, depression scores of PAs working in oncology or neurology or with a low net income exceeded critical cutoff values.

Conclusion

Interventions aimed at removing the significant negative correlation among job satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and stress scores are needed. To retain PAs in their jobs, salary, autonomy, and development opportunities should be improved and prevention programs for anxiety and depression should be offered. Remarkably, PAs' overall good job satisfaction was mainly determined by good evaluations of supervisors and colleagues.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Brief Emotion and Regulation Beliefs Scale in Chinese nursing students

Background

Nursing students are experiencing complex learning environments and will experience complex work environments in future clinical work, which lead to emotional problems easily. However, one’s beliefs about controlling their emotions portend a series of vital psychological outcomes. So, it is especially important to search for suitable tools to assess the emotion and regulation beliefs of nursing students and give timely intervention to improve their physical and mental health. This study aimed to translate the American version of the Emotion and Regulation Beliefs Scale (ERBS) into Chinese, revise the original scale and form a simplified version, and assess the reliability and validity of the brief Chinese version in nursing students.

Methods

The study adopted a cross-sectional design and the multistage sampling design. The ERBS was translated into Chinese, and the reliability and validity of the Chinese version were tested in 980 nursing students.

Results

The content validity index was 0.920. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor model for the Chinese version of Brief-ERBS, and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model fit the Brief-ERBS well. Furthermore, the three-factors model was obtained by using exploratory factor analysis, explaining 51.023% variance, and the communalities of the items ranged from 0.359 to 0.680. With modified confirmatory factor analysis, the fit indices were chi-square/degree of freedom (CMIN/DF) = 4.092, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.949, adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.927, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.913, incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.914, Tucker Lewis index (TLI) = 0.908, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.061. The two-tailed independent samples t-test showed the scores of the top (50%) and low (50%) groups reached the level of significance (P < 0.001). A highly positive correlation between the Brief-ERBS total score and the ERBS total score was found (r = 0.972, P < 0.01). The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the scale was 0.798, the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.784, and the retest coefficient was 0.879.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of Brief-ERBS has good reliability and validity, and may be used for the beliefs about emotional management in Chinese nursing students.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-022-00992-1.

Psychological Distress and Resilience among Italian Healthcare Workers of Geriatric Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed healthcare workers (HW) to heavy workload and psychological distress. This study was aimed to investigate distress levels among Italian physicians, nurses, rehabilitation professionals and healthcare assistants working in geriatric and long-term care services, and to explore the potential role of resilience as a protective resource. The General Health Questionnaire-12, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and a demographic survey were completed by 708 Italian HWs. Distress and resilience levels were compared between professionals through ANOVA; the contribution of sex, age, professional role, and resilience to distress was explored through regression analyses. Physicians reported significantly higher resilience and distress levels than rehabilitation professionals and healthcare assistants respectively. Women, HWs aged above 45, physicians, and participants reporting low resilience levels were at higher risk for distress. Findings suggest the importance of supporting HW's resilience to counterbalance the pandemic related distress.

Do type A personality and neuroticism moderate the relationships of occupational stressors, job satisfaction and burnout among Chinese older nurses? A cross-sectional survey

Background

The high prevalence of burnout among nurses produces huge health service losses. Existing literature found that occupational stressors and low levels of job satisfaction were related to burnout, whilst personality traits such as type A personality and neuroticism influenced occupational stressors, job satisfaction, and burnout. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between occupational stressors and burnout among Chinese older nurses, and explore the moderating effects of type A personality and neuroticism on the relationships among occupational stressors, job satisfaction and burnout.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in five provinces and municipalities (mainly in Shandong) in China. A total of 527 female older nurses (age≧40) were included in this study. Structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was employed to investigate the mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between occupational stressors and burnout. Multi-group analysis was conducted to explore the moderating effects of type A personality and neuroticism on the relationships among occupational stressors, job satisfaction and burnout.

Results

Both nurses with high type A personality and high neuroticism had higher occupational stressors, higher burnout and lower job satisfaction. Occupational stressors had direct effect (β = 0.29, P = 0.001) and indirect effect mediated by low levels of job satisfaction (β = 0.25, P = 0.001) on burnout. Type A personality had significant moderated effect (P = 0.007) on the relationships among occupational stressors, job satisfaction and burnout, whereas the moderated effect of neuroticism was not significant.

Conclusions

Low levels of job satisfaction mediated the relationship between occupational stressors and burnout among Chinese older nurses, and both the direct and indirect effect of occupational stressors on burnout were moderated by type A personality. Hospital administrators should take specific measures such as transferring older nurses to easier positions to reduce their occupational stress, thereby increasing their job satisfaction and reducing their burnout, which is especially important for the older nurses with high type A personality.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-022-00865-7.

Burnout, Compassion Fatigue and Psychological Flexibility among Geriatric Nurses: A Multicenter Study in Spain

Nurses working at nursing homes are one of the most vulnerable populations for suffering burnout and compassion fatigue. In Spain, the concept of compassion fatigue and psychological flexibility related to stress in geriatric nurses has not been fully explored until now. It is important to analyze their situation in order to design robust coping and management strategies. The aim was to analyze the relationship between burnout, compassion fatigue and psychological flexibility in geriatric nurses in Spain. Participants included 291 nurses from 97 centers in 51 cities across Spain. Psychological flexibility (AAQ-II), burnout (MBI) and compassion fatigue (ProQOL) were evaluated. Responses were recievced from 281 nurses (91% women), with an average of 7.6 years of work experience. The MBI results were average (26.71), and the ProQOL scores were average for compassion fatigue (40.2%) and high for compassion satisfaction (70.3%), whereas for AAQ-II, the mean score was 37.34 (SD 4.21). The correlation was significant and negative for flexibility, burnout and compassion fatigue, and positive for compassion satisfaction. The ANOVA indicated a significant association between all variables (p < 0.05). We can conclude that geriatric nurses suffer from medium levels of burnout and compassion fatigue, together with high levels of psychological flexibility, which appears to act as a stress reliever, supporting compassion satisfaction.

The Importance of Contextualized Psychosocial Risk Indicators in Workplace Stress Assessment: Evidence from the Healthcare Sector

The routine assessment of workplace stress is mostly based on standardized self-report tools, including generic psychosocial risk indicators (G-PRIs) designed to fit very heterogeneous occupational sectors. However, the use "by default" of such indicators might be inadequate when they fail to characterize the specificity of the work environment; hence, the inclusion of more contextualized indicators (C-PRIs) has been recommended. We aimed at evaluating the additional contribution of three C-PRIs (Work-Family Conflict, Emotional Demands, and Excessive Demands from Patients) in predicting individual outcomes (Emotional Exhaustion, Turnover Intentions) compared to commonly used G-PRIs (e.g., Demand, Control, Support), in a sample of 787 healthcare workers involved in a routine workplace stress assessment. Multilevel hierarchical regression supported the additional contributions of C-PRIs in predicting both outcomes over G-PRIs, sex, age and shift work. More robust and consistent evidence emerged for Emotional Exhaustion, which was significantly predicted by all C-PRIs, whereas Turnover Intentions was only predicted by the C-PRI Emotional Demands. Importantly, not all G-PRIs showed a relationship with the two outcomes. Taken together, our results support the importance of including C-PRIs in workplace stress assessment carried out by organizations, which should be selected based on literature search and discussion with the stakeholders.

Socioeconomic Factors Related to Job Satisfaction among Formal Care Workers in Nursing Homes for Older Dependent Adults

Population ageing is increasing the demand for dependent care. Aged care nursing homes are facilities that provide formal care for dependent older persons. Determining the level of job satisfaction among workers in nursing homes and the associated factors is key to enhancing their well-being and the quality of care. A cross-sectional survey was administered online to nursing home workers (n = 256) in an inland region of Spain over the period from February to May 2017. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic variables and others related to training and job satisfaction. The results show that most of the care is delivered by women with a medium level of education. A total of 68% of workers had received formal training, although a significant percentage (65%) thought this was not useful. The highest level of satisfaction was found to be related to users and co-workers. Our factor analysis revealed that the satisfaction components are decision-making, working conditions—e.g., schedule—and the work environment—e.g., relationship with coworkers—. Length of service and working with highly dependent persons are negatively associated with these components. Working in social health care is negatively related to decision-making and working conditions. Training, in contrast, is positively associated with these components. Care is a job that requires appropriate training and preparation to provide quality assistance and to guarantee workers’ well-being.

Experiences of geriatric nurses in nursing home settings across four countries in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

AIM

To explore the emotional impact and experiences of geriatric nurses working in nursing homes and caring for patients with coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19).

DESIGN

This is a qualitative study with phenomenological method and data were gathered through in-depth interview.

METHODS

The experiences and expectations that nurses are facing during their care duties were explored via video conference, using a semi-structured interview guide. We have followed the Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research COREQ.

RESULTS

Interviews (N=24) were conducted with nurses from four countries (Spain, Italy, Peru, and Mexico) during April 2020. Three main categories were extracted: fear of the pandemic situation, the sense of duty and professional commitment, and emotional exhaustion.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of the country and situation, in the face of the pandemic, dramatic situations have been experienced in nursing homes worldwide, with nursing staff feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and reflection is urged on a global level to consider the most appropriate model of care in nursing homes.

Factors associated with burnout and job satisfaction in Chinese hospital pharmacists

Pharmacists with long experience and low personal satisfaction from work are at higher risk of burnout, but the role of specific personality traits is less well understood. In addition, the medical system in China is different from that of other countries, and the characteristics of pharmacist burnout might be different from that of other countries. This study evaluated the roles played by personality, working environment, and work characteristics on burnout and job satisfaction among Chinese hospital pharmacists.This was a cross-sectional study undertaken between April 28 and 30, 2017. The questionnaires were completed at the "National Academic Conference of the Chinese Society of Clinical Pharmacy". Questionnaires were handed out to 1786 pharmacists, and 1394 valid questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques.The final structural model showed that, as expected, personality and working environment factors directly or indirectly predicted burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduction of personal accomplishment) and job satisfaction variables. The analyses were consistent with the features of pharmacists' work characteristics, including job demands, job control, and workload playing mediating roles between antecedent variables (personality and working environment) and emotional outcomes (burnout and job satisfaction). On the other hand, job control and workload did not predict emotional exhaustion.This study indicates that personality is a negative predictor of 2 dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization), while the working environment, especially job demand, is a predictor of burnout and greater emotional exhaustion. Work characteristics are positively related to job satisfaction and play a protective role against burnout.

Effects of Emotional Labor Factors and Working Environment on the Risk of Depression in Pink-Collar Workers

Analyzing men and women separately, we examined the associations between six key elements of the psychosocial work environment of pink-collar workers (n = 7633) and the risk of depression, using logistic regression analysis with data from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted in 2017. We assessed the risk of depression according to the presence of emotional display rules (EDR), health and safety information (HSI), and emotional labor. In males, the risk of depression increased when there were no EDR and they had to interact with angry customers (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.14–3.30). For women, the risk of depression increased if they had to interact with angry customers and EDR were present (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.00–3.00), and if they did not receive HSI but had to interact with angry customers (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.02–2.71), or hid their emotions and did not receive HSI (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.50–2.40). The risk of depression increased more in the presence of EDR among women who hid their emotions (OR 1.80, 95% CI, 1.40–2.31) compared to women who did not hide their emotions and in the absence of EDR. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the effects of gender-specific factors on the risk of depression and revise current guidelines accordingly.

Effects of a practical training programme on burnout among professional caregivers in a care home for older adults with dementia: a pilot study

AIM

As the number of persons with dementia has increased so has the need for both specialized care and long-term care centres. Professional caregivers working in these centres encounter specific problems, including stress, burnout, and feelings of dissatisfaction, each which can affect the quality of care. Due to the nature of their work, they are more likely to experience stress, which may lead to burnout syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the results of a practical training programme with regard to burnout among direct care professionals in a nursing home for people with dementia.

METHODS

A practical training programme was conducted for caregivers at the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Nursing Home in Cuenca, Spain. The programme used a dynamic, interactive methodology to provide training related to concepts and strategies for dementia care. Weekly 2-h sessions were held over 9 months, from April 2016 to January 2017, with the post-test administered in February. Pretest and post-test measures were taken for a sample of 36 caregivers. An anova was used to analyze the differences in means before and after training. An ancova was also performed to determine the effects of the intervention.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores. Personal accomplishment scores improved, but the changes were not significant.

CONCLUSION

A practical training programme for direct care professionals working with dementia patients can decrease burnout levels.

Burnout in nursing: a theoretical review

BACKGROUND

Workforce studies often identify burnout as a nursing 'outcome'. Yet, burnout itself-what constitutes it, what factors contribute to its development, and what the wider consequences are for individuals, organisations, or their patients-is rarely made explicit. We aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of research that examines theorised relationships between burnout and other variables, in order to determine what is known (and not known) about the causes and consequences of burnout in nursing, and how this relates to theories of burnout.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. We included quantitative primary empirical studies (published in English) which examined associations between burnout and work-related factors in the nursing workforce.

RESULTS

Ninety-one papers were identified. The majority (n = 87) were cross-sectional studies; 39 studies used all three subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) Scale to measure burnout. As hypothesised by Maslach, we identified high workload, value incongruence, low control over the job, low decision latitude, poor social climate/social support, and low rewards as predictors of burnout. Maslach suggested that turnover, sickness absence, and general health were effects of burnout; however, we identified relationships only with general health and sickness absence. Other factors that were classified as predictors of burnout in the nursing literature were low/inadequate nurse staffing levels, ≥ 12-h shifts, low schedule flexibility, time pressure, high job and psychological demands, low task variety, role conflict, low autonomy, negative nurse-physician relationship, poor supervisor/leader support, poor leadership, negative team relationship, and job insecurity. Among the outcomes of burnout, we found reduced job performance, poor quality of care, poor patient safety, adverse events, patient negative experience, medication errors, infections, patient falls, and intention to leave.

CONCLUSIONS

The patterns identified by these studies consistently show that adverse job characteristics-high workload, low staffing levels, long shifts, and low control-are associated with burnout in nursing. The potential consequences for staff and patients are severe. The literature on burnout in nursing partly supports Maslach's theory, but some areas are insufficiently tested, in particular, the association between burnout and turnover, and relationships were found for some MBI dimensions only.

The Association of Work Satisfaction and Burnout Risk in Endoscopy Nursing Staff-A Cross-Sectional Study Using Canonical Correlation Analysis

Background: Burnout is known to have detrimental effects on healthcare staff with regard to both personal and occupational matters. The association between burnout symptoms and work satisfaction in endoscopy nursing staff in Germany has not been studied previously. We aimed to investigate the association between work satisfaction and risk of burnout in endoscopy nursing staff in Germany and to extract predictors for burnout in the area of work satisfaction, which can inform the design of future interventions. Setting: All members of the German Association of Endoscopy Staff in Germany (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endoskopiefachberufe e.V.—DEGEA) were invited to take part in an online survey. Methods: The total sample consisted of 674 endoscopy staff members. Of those, 579 were female (85.9%) and 95 were male (14.1%). The mean age of the participants was 44.3 years (SD 10.6), with a median age of 46 years, a minimum age of 20, and a maximum age of 64 years. We used confirmatory factor analyses to examine the Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) and, a questionnaire for assessing general and facet-specific job satisfaction (KAFA), regarding their postulated internal structure in our special sample. Canonical correlations were performed to examine the association between work satisfaction and burnout in endoscopy staff members. Results: We were able to replicate the factorial structures of the MBI and the KAFA, both showing an acceptable model fit. The canonical correlation analysis resulted in three canonical functions, with canonical correlations of 0.64 (p < 0.001), 0.32 (p < 0.001), and 0.17 (p < 0.001). The first canonical function revealed that KAFA scales for colleagues, professional development, payment, supervisor, and general job satisfaction were good predictors for less exhaustion, less depersonalization and lack of empathy, and higher personal accomplishment. Commonality analysis revealed that general job satisfaction was the most significant factor in explaining the squared canonical correlation. The second canonical function showed that occupational function and colleagues were good predictors for exhaustion and personal accomplishment. Conclusions: Interventions aimed at ameliorating symptoms of burnout in endoscopy staff should be tailored to address specific needs as experienced by the employees. Therefore, the results of this study could contribute to the design of various interventions, which could be employed to address the issue of work satisfaction and burnout in endoscopy staff most effectively.

Nurses’ emotions, emotional labor, and job satisfaction

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between emotional labor, emotions, and job satisfaction among nurses, and explore the mediating role of emotions in the relationship between emotional labor and job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was designed with 168 nurses in Korea. Structural equation modeling and path analysis were performed to analyze data.

Findings

Surface acting correlated positively with anxiety and frustration. Deep acting correlated positively with enjoyment and pride but correlated negatively with anxiety, anger and frustration. Enjoyment and pride correlated positively with job satisfaction; anger correlated negatively with job satisfaction. Deep acting correlated positively with job satisfaction, while surface acting did not show a significant relationship. Enjoyment, pride and anger mediated the relationship between deep acting and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This research expands empirical findings on nurses’ emotional experiences, by considering their discrete emotions rather than general affect. It is the first study to empirically examine the relationships between emotional labor, discrete emotions and job satisfaction, as well as the mediating role of emotions in the relationship between emotional labor and job satisfaction in the nursing field. The mediating role of emotions suggests that not only nurses and nurse managers but also hospital administrators should take nurses’ emotions into account to increase nurses’ well-being and their job satisfaction. Finally, differential influences of surface acting and deep acting on nurses’ emotional experiences and job satisfaction highlight the need for practical interventions to promote the use of deep acting among nurses.

Originality/value

This study confirms the mediating role of emotions in the relationship between emotional labor and job satisfaction in the nursing field. It encourages future research to pay greater attention to nurses’ emotions themselves along with emotional labor. Findings add an interdisciplinary aspect to research on nursing by assimilating psychological perspectives of emotion and emotion management research to this field.

Nurses’ emotions, emotion regulation and emotional exhaustion

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relations between emotion regulation (reappraisal and suppression), discrete emotions and emotional exhaustion among nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional design was used with 168 nurses in South Korea. Structural equation modeling and path analysis were conducted for analysis.

Findings

Reappraisal correlated positively with enjoyment and pride and negatively with anxiety, anger and frustration, whereas suppression correlated negatively with enjoyment and positively with anxiety and frustration. Moreover, reappraisal was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion, whereas suppression was positively associated with it. Enjoyment was negatively related to emotional exhaustion, and anger and frustration were positively related to it. Enjoyment and frustration mediated the relation between emotion regulation and emotional exhaustion. Findings demonstrate the potentially beneficial influences of reappraisal as well as harmful impacts of suppression in the nursing context.

Research limitations/implications

This paper expands research on nurses’ emotion management by applying Gross’s emotion regulation framework rather than Hochschild’s emotional labor framework. The mediating result suggests that not only nurses but also hospital administrators and nurse managers should pay attention to nurses’ emotional experiences to improve nurses’ well-being and ultimately better nursing practice. This research can provide the basis for developing practical interventions to efficiently regulate nurses’ emotions.

Originality/value

This is the first study exploring the mediating role of emotions in the link between nurses’ emotion regulation and emotional exhaustion. It contributes to interdisciplinary research by integrating perspectives from psychological emotion and emotion regulation research into the nursing field.

Discriminating low-, medium- and high-burnout nurses: Role of organisational and patient-related factors

AIM

To discriminate low/medium/high burnout in nurses by work and patient-related indicators and explore what factors characterize these categories best.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, online survey with a representative sample of nurses. Measures assessed burnout, intragroup conflict, job insecurity, overt aggression and impact of patient aggression on nurses.

RESULTS

Top nurse managers experienced more burnout than middle managers or staff, middle managers also reported greater burnout than staff. Those who had never suffered aggression experienced greater burnout but less intragroup conflict and job insecurity. Staff differed on job insecurity from top and midlevel managers. The first discriminant function differentiated high burnout from medium and low; this function was characterized by exhaustion, aggression and intragroup conflict. The second function differentiated medium burnout from others; job insecurity, years worked, over aggression and overtime dominated this function.

CONCLUSIONS

Burnout affects managers and staff differently; top managers may be more susceptible to burnout than reported before. Low, medium and high burnout groups require tailored interventions because of their different characteristics.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

In the future, burnout assessment should focus on both organisational and care related factors. Determining levels of burnout will guide managers to improve the right aspects of practice and work environment.

Does geriatric nursing staff burnout predict well-being of LTC residents?

Nursing staff in residential settings are exposed to a large number of stressors. This study examined the relationship between geriatric nursing staff (GNS) burnout and the well-being of residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Data were obtained concerning 590 older residents who were served by 315 GNS in 172 LTC facilities in Taiwan, using multilevel modeling. The depersonalization (DP) dimension of burnout in GNS was consistently related to various resident well-being outcomes. Higher DP among GNS was associated with lower residential satisfaction and perceived quality-of-life, as well as more depressive symptoms among older LTC residents. The findings support the claim that DP among GNS has a greater role in determining LTC resident well-being than other dimensions of burnout. Efforts should be made to mitigate the emergence of DP among GNS. Support and education are also needed to enable GNS to foster positive interactions and relationships with LTC residents.

Job Burnout, Work-Family Conflict and Project Performance for Construction Professionals: The Moderating Role of Organizational Support

Construction professionals are prone to work-family conflict and job burnout, which in turn can affect project performance during implementation of delivery. To cope with this, a questionnaire survey was undertaken with construction professionals in the Chinese construction industry and 373 valid responses were received. A theoretical model introducing organizational support as a moderating variable was developed and tested with structural equation modeling. The results showed that there is a positive correlation between work-family conflict and job burnout for construction professionals. Involving organizational support can alleviate the impact of work-family conflict on professionals' job burnout. Meanwhile, both work-family conflict and job burnout have negative effects on project performance. Therefore, an atmosphere and culture of humanized management should be established within the construction enterprises. Additionally, organizational incentives such as regulations and rules should be formulated assisting employees achieve work-family balance. Such incentives could contribute to the construction industry and improve project performance. Furthermore, this study provides a new theoretical perspective for the management of job burnout and work-family conflict in the construction industry, complementing the existing body of knowledge.

Associations Between Age, Psychosocial Work Conditions, Occupational Well-Being, and Telomere Length in Geriatric Care Professionals: A Mixed-Methods Study

OBJECTIVE

We identified associations between age, psychosocial work characteristics, occupational well-being, and-as a measure of biological age-leukocyte telomere length in geriatric care professionals.

METHODS

This is a multisource study of self-reports on psychosocial work characteristics, standardized physician's evaluations of health, and relative telomere length measures of peripheral blood leukocytes. We included 141 geriatric care professionals. Telomere length was assessed by an improved polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method.

RESULTS

Increased depersonalization was associated with shorter telomeres. Their association with age was not moderated by psychosocial work conditions. There was, however, a significant three-way interaction of social support and work ability with the age-telomere association. Additionally, social support and adverse general health moderated the age-telomere length relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

A supportive work environment and work-related health may influence the association between age and telomere length.

Relationship of work-family conflict, self-reported social support and job satisfaction to burnout syndrome among medical workers in southwest China: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Burnout is a psychosomatic syndrome widely observed in Chinese medical workers due to the increasing cost of medical treatment, excessive workload, and excessive prescribing behavior. No studies have evaluated the interrelationship among occupational burnout, work-family conflict, social support, and job satisfaction in medical workers. The aim of this study was to evaluate these relationships among medical workers in southwest China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2013 and December 2013, and was based on the fifth National Health Service Survey (NHSS). A total of 1382 medical workers were enrolled in the study. Pearson correlation analysis and general linear model univariate analysis were used to evaluate the relationship of work-family conflict, self-reported social support, and job satisfaction with burnout syndrome in medical workers.

RESULTS

We observed that five dimensions of job satisfaction and self-reported social support were negatively associated with burnout syndrome, whereas three dimensions of work-family conflict showed a positive correlation. In a four-stage general linear model analysis, we found that demographic factors accounted for 5.4% of individual variance in burnout syndrome (F = 4.720, P<0.001, R2 = 0.054), and that work-family conflict, self-reported social support, and job satisfaction accounted for 2.6% (F = 5.93, P<0.001, R2 = 0.080), 5.7% (F = 9.532, P<0.001, R2 = 0.137) and 17.8% (F = 21.608, P<0.001, R2 = 0.315) of the variance, respectively. In the fourth stage of analysis, female gender and a lower technical title correlated to a higher level of burnout syndrome, and medical workers without administrative duties had more serious burnout syndrome than those with administrative duties.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the present study suggests that work-family conflict and self-reported social support slightly affect the level of burnout syndrome, and that job satisfaction is a much stronger influence on burnout syndrome in medical workers of southwest China.