Predictors of occupational burnout among nurses: a dominance analysis of job stressors

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To quantitatively compare dimensions of job stressors' effects on nurses' burnout.

Background: Nurses, a key group of health service providers, often experience stressors at work. Extensive research has examined the relationship between job stressors and burnout; however, less has specifically compared the effects of job stressor domains on nurses' burnout.

Design: A quantitative cross-sectional survey examined three general hospitals in Jinan, China.

Method: Participants were 602 nurses. We compared five potential stressors' ability to predict nurses' burnout using dominance analysis and assuming that each stressor was intercorrelated.

Results: Strong positive correlations were found between all five job stressors and burnout. Interpersonal relationships and management issues most strongly predicted participants' burnout (11·3% of average variance).

Conclusion: Job stressors, and particularly interpersonal relationships and management issues, significantly predict nurses' job burnout.

Relevance to clinical practice: Understanding the relative effect of job stressors may help identify fruitful areas for intervention and improve nurse recruitment and retention.

Keywords: burnout; dominance analysis; job stressors; nurses; relative weight.