Influential Factors on Job Burnout Among China’s Nursing College Faculties: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

Abstract

This study investigates the key factors that contribute to job burnout among nursing faculty members in Guizhou, China. It specifically examines the mediating roles of Psychological Capital (PsyCap). Job burnout, characterized by emotional depletion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment, is prevalent among instructors due to the combined demands of teaching, clinical practice, and familial responsibilities. This study adopts a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, utilizing quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Quantitative data were gathered from 200 nursing educators in six colleges using standardized tools, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Academic Psychological Capital Questionnaire (APsyCap-Q), and the Work-Family Conflict Scale. The qualitative data from semi-structured interviews offered detailed insights into personal perspectives and experiences of various burnout symptoms. The study finds that trial-role conflict, specifically work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW), is significantly associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion and cynicism among the sampled nursing faculty. PsyCap, comprising hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism, partially mediates the connection between trial-role conflict and job burnout, underscoring its role in alleviating the negative impacts of conflicting responsibilities. In conclusion, the study underscores the necessity of targeted interventions to enhance Psychological Capital (PsyCap) among nursing educators, with the goal of reducing burnout and promoting overall well-being. It also presents practical implications for policymakers and educational leaders in regions such as Guizhou, China, to help nursing faculty balance their professional and personal responsibilities. Ultimately, this study contributes to a broader understanding of job burnout in Chinese nursing education, emphasizing the significance of PsyCap as a mediator.