The effect of hindrance stressors on the emotional exhaustion among front-line healthcare workers in the recuperation period during the COVID-19 epidemic in China: a prospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the influence and conditioning process of hindrance stressors on the emotional exhaustion of the front-line healthcare workers during recuperation, examine the potential mediating process of rumination, and explore the moderating role of organisational and family factors.SettingThis cross-sectional study was conducted during 12–20 July 2020. Total 418 questionnaires were collected from front-line healthcare workers by random cluster sampling. Hierarchical regression was performed to analyse the mediating effect of affective rumination using SPSS25.0, while PROCESS was used to further investigate the moderating role of servant leadership and family support.Participants418 healthcare workers were investigated randomly from front-line medical teams. Inclusion criteria included worked as front-line health workers and participated in the fight against COVID-19 in Hubei; age ≥18 years; normal cognitive and comprehension abilities under physical and mental health; volunteer to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria included recently affected by major events other than COVID-19 or those with a history of neurasthenia and trauma.ResultsUsing descriptive analysis of average value and SD measured by a five-item scale (MBI-GS), we found that front-line healthcare workers’ emotional exhaustion score (2.45±0.88) was at the medium level. Hindrance stressors, mediated by affective rumination, had a significant positive predictive effect on emotional exhaustion. Servant leadership negatively moderated the direct effect of hindrance stressors on emotional exhaustion (β=−0.106, p<0.01). Family support positively moderated the impact of hindrance stressors on emotional exhaustion (β=0.082, p<0.05).ConclusionsDuring the recuperation period, after successfully controlling COVID-19 at the front line, the first-line healthcare workers should be screened through affective rumination evaluation to gain insight for targeted interventions. We find that servant leadership is beneficial in alleviating emotional exhaustion while family support worsens emotional exhaustion. We suggest that servant leadership should be further promoted in medical organisations, and family support should be applied correctly and cautiously.

Workplace Buoyancy and Servant Leadership as Catalysts for Sustainable Disaster Management: Mitigating Emotional Exhaustion in Disaster Response Teams

“…This study's findings align with previous research. Similarly, recent studies focusing on employees in the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and on frontline healthcare workers found that servant leadership mitigated employees' emotional exhaustion and potential negative impacts [23,24]. Despite locating studies examining this effect in service and health sectors, no research was reached relating to high-pressure, high-risk occupations like firefighters or disaster relief workers.…”

“…Moreover, the decrease in emotional exhaustion due to servant leadership played a significant role in this interaction. Another study revealed that among 418 frontline healthcare workers, servant leadership reduced hindrance stressors during the pandemic crisis, thereby lessening the experience of emotional exhaustion [24]. While no studies directly addressing DRWs were reached in the literature review, servant leadership significantly reduces emotional exhaustion, preventing employees from having negative experiences in crises.…”

“…It enables employees to develop practical approaches to combat workplace-related stressors. Through its positive organizational climate and employee-oriented management approach, servant leadership reduces employees' emotional exhaustion [22][23][24]. Moreover, workplace buoyancy, as an individual resource, also reduces emotional exhaustion.…”

Sistematik Reviu Literatur Gaya Kepemimpinan Positif di Bidang Pelayanan Kesehatan (2019- 2023): Tren dan Penelitian Lanjutan

“…Agar memperkaya hasil reviu, penelitian selanjutnya dapat memperluas lingkup desain studi dari jurnal artikel dengan mencakup artikel dengan metode penelitian kualitatif, eksperimen, dan mixedmethod. Selain itu, gaya kepemimpinan tidak secara eksklusif berperan sebagai variabel independen saja, tapi juga dapat berperan sebagai variabel moderasi (Johnson et al, 2022); (Wang et al, 2022) maupun mediasi (Ahmad et al, 2021); (Caputo et al, 2023). Penambahan peran gaya kepemimpinan sebagai variabel moderasi dan mediasi juga akan memberikan pemahaman yang lebih luas mengenai alur kerja setiap variabel yang berkaitan dengan gaya kepemimpinan.…”