The Associated Factors of Work Engagement, Work Overload, Work Satisfaction, and Emotional Exhaustion and Their Effect on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

doi:10.3390/healthcare13020162

. 2025 Jan 16;13(2):162.

doi: 10.3390/healthcare13020162.

The Associated Factors of Work Engagement, Work Overload, Work Satisfaction, and Emotional Exhaustion and Their Effect on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marina Moreno-Martínez^{1

2

3

4}, Iván Sánchez-Martínez^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Research and Innovation Unit, Primary and Community Care Management of Central Catalonia, 08242 Manresa, Spain.
² Intelligence for Primary Care Research Group, Foundation University Institute for Research in Primary Care of Health Jordi Gol i Gurina, 08242 Manresa, Spain.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manresa, 08242 Manresa, Spain.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, International University of Valencia, 46002 Valencia, Spain.
⁵ Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O) Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain.
⁶ Institute for Research and Innovation in Life Sciences and Health in Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), 08500 Vic, Spain.
⁷ Navarcles Primary Care Center, Primary and Community Care Management of Central Catalonia, Catalan Institute of Health, 08270 Navarcles, Spain.

PMID: 39857189
PMCID: PMC11765034
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13020162

The Associated Factors of Work Engagement, Work Overload, Work Satisfaction, and Emotional Exhaustion and Their Effect on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marina Moreno-Martínez et al. Healthcare (Basel). 2025.

. 2025 Jan 16;13(2):162.

doi: 10.3390/healthcare13020162.

Authors

Marina Moreno-Martínez^{1

2

3

4}, Iván Sánchez-Martínez^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Research and Innovation Unit, Primary and Community Care Management of Central Catalonia, 08242 Manresa, Spain.
² Intelligence for Primary Care Research Group, Foundation University Institute for Research in Primary Care of Health Jordi Gol i Gurina, 08242 Manresa, Spain.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manresa, 08242 Manresa, Spain.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, International University of Valencia, 46002 Valencia, Spain.
⁵ Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O) Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain.
⁶ Institute for Research and Innovation in Life Sciences and Health in Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), 08500 Vic, Spain.
⁷ Navarcles Primary Care Center, Primary and Community Care Management of Central Catalonia, Catalan Institute of Health, 08270 Navarcles, Spain.

PMID: 39857189
PMCID: PMC11765034
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13020162

Abstract

Background: In today's fast-paced work environment, work engagement is crucial for both organizational success and individual well-being. Objective: Our aim is this study was to analyze the associated factors of work engagement, work overload, work satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion and describe their effect on nurses and physicians in the Central Catalonia Health Region during 2023. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire at the Territorial Management of Central Catalonia (Spain). The questionnaire was accessible from 28 November 2022 to 12 March 2023. The analysis was performed using the SPSS software. CHERRIES (Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys) guidelines were followed for communicating research results. Results: A total of 321 professionals answered the questionnaire, 60.7% of whom were nursing professionals and 39.3% of whom were medical professionals. Work overload, work satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion were associated with work engagement. Being a physician, permanent contracts, irregular work shifts, overtime, and salary were related to work overload and emotional exhaustion. Being a woman, salary, academic level, and irregular work shifts were related to work satisfaction. There was a gender inequality in work engagement among nursing professionals to the detriment of men. In terms of class inequality, there was a difference between occupational groups with respect to work overload and emotional exhaustion among women. Conclusions: Organizational practices need to be improved to promote greater engagement and work satisfaction, as well as to reduce emotional overload and exhaustion. This may include regulating unpaid overtime and promoting more stable working hours.

Keywords: emotional exhaustion; healthcare workers; work engagement; work overload; work satisfaction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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References

1. Ni Y., Xu Y., He L., Wen Y., You G. Relationship between Job Demands, Work Engagement, Emotional Workload and Job Performance among Nurses: A Moderated Mediation Model. Int. Nurs. Rev. 2024;71:924–932. doi: 10.1111/inr.12941. - DOI - PubMed
1. Debets M., Scheepers R., Silkens M., Lombarts K. Structural Equation Modelling Analysis on Relationships of Job Demands and Resources with Work Engagement, Burnout and Work Ability: An Observational Study among Physicians in Dutch Hospitals. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e062603. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062603. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Sohrabizadeh S., Sayfouri N. Antecedents and Consequences of Work Engagement Among Nurses. Iran. Red. Crescent Med. J. 2014;16:e16351. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.16351. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Li L., Gan Y., Jiang H., Yang Y., Zhou X., Zheng Y., Yu F., Liu J., Zhong Y., Chen Y., et al. Job Satisfaction and Its Associated Factors Among General Practitioners in China. J. Am. Board. Fam. Med. 2020;33:456–459. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190126. - DOI - PubMed
1. Yildiz B., Yildiz T. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analytical Synthesis of the Relationship between Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction in Nurses. Perspect. Psychiatr. Care. 2022;58:3062–3078. doi: 10.1111/ppc.13068. - DOI - PubMed

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[1] Ni Y., Xu Y., He L., Wen Y., You G. Relationship between Job Demands, Work Engagement, Emotional Workload and Job Performance among Nurses: A Moderated Mediation Model. Int. Nurs. Rev. 2024;71:924–932. doi: 10.1111/inr.12941. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Ni Y., Xu Y., He L., Wen Y., You G. Relationship between Job Demands, Work Engagement, Emotional Workload and Job Performance among Nurses: A Moderated Mediation Model. Int. Nurs. Rev. 2024;71:924–932. doi: 10.1111/inr.12941. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Debets M., Scheepers R., Silkens M., Lombarts K. Structural Equation Modelling Analysis on Relationships of Job Demands and Resources with Work Engagement, Burnout and Work Ability: An Observational Study among Physicians in Dutch Hospitals. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e062603. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062603. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Debets M., Scheepers R., Silkens M., Lombarts K. Structural Equation Modelling Analysis on Relationships of Job Demands and Resources with Work Engagement, Burnout and Work Ability: An Observational Study among Physicians in Dutch Hospitals. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e062603. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062603. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Sohrabizadeh S., Sayfouri N. Antecedents and Consequences of Work Engagement Among Nurses. Iran. Red. Crescent Med. J. 2014;16:e16351. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.16351. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Sohrabizadeh S., Sayfouri N. Antecedents and Consequences of Work Engagement Among Nurses. Iran. Red. Crescent Med. J. 2014;16:e16351. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.16351. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Li L., Gan Y., Jiang H., Yang Y., Zhou X., Zheng Y., Yu F., Liu J., Zhong Y., Chen Y., et al. Job Satisfaction and Its Associated Factors Among General Practitioners in China. J. Am. Board. Fam. Med. 2020;33:456–459. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190126. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Li L., Gan Y., Jiang H., Yang Y., Zhou X., Zheng Y., Yu F., Liu J., Zhong Y., Chen Y., et al. Job Satisfaction and Its Associated Factors Among General Practitioners in China. J. Am. Board. Fam. Med. 2020;33:456–459. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.03.190126. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Yildiz B., Yildiz T. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analytical Synthesis of the Relationship between Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction in Nurses. Perspect. Psychiatr. Care. 2022;58:3062–3078. doi: 10.1111/ppc.13068. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Yildiz B., Yildiz T. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analytical Synthesis of the Relationship between Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction in Nurses. Perspect. Psychiatr. Care. 2022;58:3062–3078. doi: 10.1111/ppc.13068. - DOI - PubMed

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The Associated Factors of Work Engagement, Work Overload, Work Satisfaction, and Emotional Exhaustion and Their Effect on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Affiliations

The Associated Factors of Work Engagement, Work Overload, Work Satisfaction, and Emotional Exhaustion and Their Effect on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

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Abstract

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