Burnout and depression of medical staff: A chain mediating model of resilience and self-esteem

Abstract

Background: Although the relationship between burnout and depression is well-known and frequently studied, the specific mechanisms by which burnout develops into depression have not been fully established. Based on theoretical and empirical research on resilience and self-esteem, this study constructs a chain mediating model to test whether they play a mediating role in burnout and depression among medical staff.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample consisting of 602 medical staff was carried out by convenient sampling method. They all completed a self-report questionnaire with demographic information, burnout, resilience, self-esteem and depression. SPSS26 and Mplus8.3 were used to analyze the data.

Results: Burnout was found to positively predict depression of medical staff and negatively predict resilience and self-esteem. Resilience was a mediator between burnout and depression. Self-esteem was also a mediator between them. Meanwhile, resilience and self-esteem had a chain mediating effect on burnout and depression.

Limitations: The cross-sectional study does not permit causal inferences. And the data used is self-reported.

Conclusions: Burnout takes a toll on resilience and self-esteem, which can eventually lead to depression. These findings contribute to the understanding of the predictive effects of burnout on mental health and provide practical implications for the prevention and intervention of mental health among medical staff.

Keywords: Burnout; Depression; Mediating effect; Medical staff; Resilience; Self-esteem.