Burnout as a Mediator in the Relationship between Work-Life Balance and Empathy in Healthcare Professionals
- Author:
Hwo-Yeon SEO
1
;
Dong-Wook LEE
;
Soohyun NAM
;
Sung-jun CHO
;
Je-Yeon YOON
;
Yun-Chul HONG
;
Nami LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2020;17(9):951-959
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:This cross-sectional study aimed to 1) explore the relationships among work-life balance (WLB), burnout, and empathy and 2) investigate the roles of the subtypes of burnout relating to WLB and empathy.
Methods:A total of 105 health care professionals from a general hospital in Seoul were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, and a one-sentence-question on subjective WLB. Multiple questions on psychiatric problems, including sleep problems, anxiety, depressive symptom, and alcohol problems, were also included.
Results:In the mediation analyses, personal achievement was considered as a potential mediating variable between WLB and empathy. The direct effect (β=3.93, 95% CI: 1.21–6.64) and the indirect effect (β=1.95, 95% CI: 0.52–3.76) of WLB on empathy were also significant.
Conclusion:Interventions encouraging personal achievement may help mitigate burnout of health professionals.
