Relationships Between Burnout and Neuroticism Among Emergency Department Nurses: A Network Analysis

Aim: Although neuroticism has a negative impact on burnout among healthcare workers, there is little research exploring the specific interactions between different components of burnout and neuroticism. This study aims to investigate this relationship among nurses in Emergency Departments (ED) through network analysis method (NAM).

Design: A cross-sectional investigative survey was conducted.

Methods: A total of 408 Chinese nurses were recruited from ED of five hospitals in 2023 through Questionnaire Star. Components of burnout were measured by the 15-item Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), while components of neuroticism were measured by a subscale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, Short Scale for Chinese (EPQ-RSC) questionnaire. NAM was applied to build relationship between components of burnout and neuroticism and identify the bridge expected influence (BEI).

Results: Within burnout-neuroticism network, the relations between the components of burnout and neuroticism were mainly positive. Nt5 ('Anxious')-EE1 ('Exhausted'; weight = 0.281) and Nt5 ('Anxious')-EE5 ('Breakdown'; weight = 0.280) had stronger connections. Among the neuroticism, Nt5 ('Anxious') showed the strongest positive BEI, while Nt12 ('Guilty') showed the strongest negative BEI. Feeling anxiety and less guilt conscience in neuroticism were the critical factors to impact burnout of nurses in ED. Awareness of these relationships can help to develop strategies to identify and curtail burnout.

Patient or public contribution: A total of 408 emergency nurses participated in this survey.