A non-linear relationship between the cumulative exposure to occupational stressors and nurses’ burnout and the potentially emotion regulation factors

Abstract

Background: Stressful situations can increase the likelihood of nurses experiencing negative emotions, especially burnout.

Aims: To explore the association of cumulative exposure to occupational stressors and emotion regulation strategies with nurses’ burnout.

Methods: Participants were 602 nurses from three general hospitals in Jinan, China. Social demographic characteristics, occupational stress, burnout, and emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and rumination), were assessed.

Results: Nearly 70% of nurses reported that they were burnt out. Those with a moderate level and high level of stressors were 3.203 times and 26.444 times more likely to have burnout, respectively (x²_trend = 62.732). Logistic regression revealed that nurses had higher cognitive reappraisal score (odds ratios (OR) = 0.941), scored lower for burnout. Those who had higher expressive suppression score (OR = 1.054), higher rumination score (OR = 1.037), and a higher level of stressors (OR = 2.779–18.259) scored higher for burnout. The results of sensitivity analysis were similar.

Conclusions: A non-linear relationship exists between the cumulative exposure to occupational stressors and nurses’ burnout. Those who less frequently use cognitive reappraisal, more frequently use rumination and expressive suppression, and have a high level of stressors may be more likely to experience burnout.

Keywords:

• Nurse
• stress
• burnout
• emotion regulation