Relationship between job burnout and occupational stress among doctors in China

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the status of the job burnout of doctors and the variables associated with this in China. The sample consisted of 543 doctors from three provincial hospitals in China. The Maslach Burnout Inventory‐General Survey (MBI‐GS) was used to measure burnout, and the occupational stress inventory revised edition was used to measure the two dimensions of occupational adjustment (including occupational stress and coping resources). After the statistical testing for validity and reliability of MBI‐GS with nurses in China, the participants' scores were evaluated and analysed. The main results were as follows. The scores of job burnout of the surgeon and physician were significantly higher than the others (p < 0.05). The score of exhaustion (EX) was significantly higher in the 30‐ to 40‐year age group than that in any other groups. The score of professional efficacy (PE) decreased with age, while this increased with educational status. Occupational stress was significantly positively related to all burnout dimensions (p < 0.05), while coping resources correlated negatively to all burnout dimensions. Under multilevel regression, the main significant predictors of EX were role overload, responsibility, physical environment and self‐care. The main significant predictors of cynicism were role insufficiency, role overload and responsibility, and of PE were role insufficiency, social support and rational/cognitive coping (p < 0.05). Organizational efforts aimed at reducing occupational stress and strengthening their coping resources among doctors could help prevent job burnout. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Social support in the workplace for physicians in specialization training

“…Drawing a cautious conclusion, this observation is in line with earlier studies [27,28] in which a connection between social support and professional or self-efficacy was found. In this study, physicians in training described the functional – or rather multi-functional – nature of social support; when solving problems the relational and identity functions were also actualized.…”

“…There is some evidence that social support can develop working skills in patient–caregiver relationships [13], and social support can impact managerial learning [26]. Co-worker support is significant for professional efficacy [27] and self-efficacy [28]. Interestingly, social support in the workplace also impacts the choices junior physicians make between specializations [29,30].…”

The Relationship between Occupational Stress, Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Managerial Staff from a Sino‐Japanese Joint Venture in Guangzhou, China

“…In a Sino-Japanese joint venture, Chinese employees often work under Japanese management styles, with emphasis on quality and strict operation standards, and experience conflicts arising from cultural differences, which may lead a higher burnout level. Evidence from earlier studies suggested a positive association between burnout and work-related stress 3,16) . However, there has not been any study on the relationship between occupational stress, burnout and turnover intention among employees in Sino-Japanese joint ventures in the literature.…”

Critical Factors in Managing Relationally Demanding Jobs, in Care for Very Ill and/or Dying Patients: A Phenomenological Study among Public Hospital Nurses

“…One explanation of why employees adopt external standards without fully identifying with them is a strong and internalised ethic of responsibility [13]. Hence, a strong internalised work ethic among professional groups could cause the development of burnout [27].…”

“…The strong and internalised ethic of responsibility among professionals might result in adoption of external standards without fully identifying with them, which in turn can lead to health problems [13]. In nursing, the general norm is to be selfless and to put the needs of others in the first place, doing whatever it takes to help the patients.…”