Effects of work-family conflict and anxiety in the relationship between work-related stress and job burnout in Chinese female nurses: A chained mediation modeling analysis

Job burnout among nurses has been a challenging problem in recent years globally and in China. Work-related stress, work-life interference and mental health have been shown to be associated with nurse job burnout. However, the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. This study aims to examine the complex relationships linking work-related stress to nurse burnout among Chinese nurses.Study data were collected from female nurses (n = 2172) in cities of Wuhan, Shiyan and Jingzhou, Hubei Province of China. Job burnout was used as outcome variable, work-related stress was the predictor, work-life interference and anxiety symptoms were mediators. Mediation and chained mediation modeling analysis were used for data analysis.The association between work-related stress and job burnout was significantly mediated by work-family conflict (indirect effect[95%CI] = 0.05[0.05,0.06]) and anxiety symptoms (indirect effect = 0.42[0.36,0.49]), respectively. Further, a chained mediation mechanism was observed with work-family conflict and anxiety symptoms consecutively mediated the relationship between work-related stress and job burnout (indirect effect = 0.02[0.01,0.02]).The data were collected in one province in central China, so it needs caution when generalizing the study findings to other regions within or outside of China.Work-related stress exerts effects on job burnout through work-family conflict and anxiety symptoms among female nurses in China. Work-related stress-based burnout prevention must consider both work-family conflict and mental health problems.