Page 45 - JCBP-1-1

Journal of Clinical and

Basic Psychosomatics

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
U-shaped relationship between burnout-related

emotional exhaustion and work–family conflict
among physicians in China

2†
1†
Junjun Liu , Qingyuan Wang , Xiaomin Zhu , Wenxuan Zhang , Diwen Shen ,
4
3†
5
Hailong Yang , Qiuyun Cao , Ning Zhang , and Xiangdong Du *
3
6
5
5
1 Department of Psychiatry, Nanjing Meishan Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
2 Department of Clinical Medical, The Second Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University,
Nanjing, China
3 Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow
University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
4 Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University,
Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
5 Department of Clinical Psychology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing
Medical University, Nanjing, China
6 Department of Clinical Psychology, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University,
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Abstract

Work–family conflict (WFC) and burnout-related emotional exhaustion (EE) are
† These authors contributed equally
to this paper. essential concerns for employees and organizations. This study examined the
relationship between WFC and EE among Chinese physicians. A cross-sectional
*Corresponding author:
Xiangdong Du survey conducted in 2018 included 2530 participants using the WFC scale and
(xiangdong-du@163.com) the Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory. The correlation between WFC and EE was
calculated using smooth curve fitting and multivariate linear regression analysis.
Citation: Liu J, Wang Q, Zhu X,
et al., 2023, U-shaped relationship A two-piecewise linear regression model was used to investigate the threshold effect.
between burnout-related emotional Interaction and stratified analyses were performed, considering sex, age, education,
exhaustion and work–family conflict marital status, hospital information, department, work experience, and title. The
among physicians in China. J Clin
Basic Psychosom, 1(1): 1013. fully adjusted linear regression analysis results indicated a positive correlation
https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1013 between WFC and EE (β = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.67 – 0.77, P < 0.001). Smoothing graphs
Received: May 29, 2023 also demonstrated a non-linear link between WFC and EE, with an inflection point
around 8.0 for WFC. On the left and right sides of the inflection point, the effect sizes
Accepted: July 11, 2023
and confidence intervals were −0.61 (−1.17 – −0.05, P = 0.034) and 0.79 (0.74 – 0.85,
Published Online: July 28, 2023 P < 0.001), respectively. These findings suggested a U-shaped association between
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). WFC and EE among physicians in China, indicating that lower and higher WFC levels
This is an open-access article may lead to an increased risk of EE.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, and Keywords: Emotional exhaustion; Work–family conflict; Relationship; Physicians
reproduction in any medium, which
provided that the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
publishing remains neutral with 1. Introduction
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Burnout is a response to persistent work-related stress. It includes emotional exhaustion
[1]
affiliations. (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment . It is most

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1013