Page 46 - JCBP-1-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Emotional exhaustion and work–family conflict in physicians

prevalent in professions characterized by high interpersonal working life can positively impact their contribution to
work demands, including doctors, nurses, police, the family [20,21] . If there is a complex of factors, the stress
teachers, and social workers . EE is the core symptom in the workplace or deterioration of family relationships
[2]
of job burnout [3,4] . In the process of helping and serving may have interactive effects, rapidly worsening a person’s
others, high psychological and emotional demands tend emotional state, indicating a non-linear relationship
to deplete individuals’ emotional resources, particularly between WFC and EE.
affecting those with limited emotional reserves, excessive WFC is identified as one of the key risk factors for
workload, collaboration with poorly qualified people, EE, as established by prior research . However, the
[22]
insufficient knowledge, and ineffective interprofessional majority of these studies only employ the generalized
communication . Due to overly stringent job requirements linear model (GLM), which assumes linearity in both
[5]
and ongoing work stress, individuals who experience EE, a dependent and independent variables [23,24] . As mentioned
crucial component of job burnout, become physically and earlier, the relationship between WFC and EE is not
emotionally exhausted over time . Numerous studies have linear, necessitating a non-linear analysis to explore this
[6]
demonstrated the negative effects of EE on individuals
and their work performance. For example, high levels possibility. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the non-
linear relationship between WFC and EE in Chinese
of EE can result in decreased employee performance, physicians.
increased turnover, reduced organizational satisfaction,
and elevated levels of work–family conflict (WFC) [7-10] . In 2. Methods
China, physicians experience a high level of job burnout
influenced by various factors, including their working and 2.1. Participants
living environments, personality traits, and emotional The data for this study were extracted from a large cross-
adaptability . The impact of WFC on physicians’ EE has sectional research conducted on hospital doctors in
[11]
garnered increasing attention from researchers in recent China in 2018. The Clinical Research Ethics Committee
years. of Nanjing Meishan Hospital approved the study (No:
Family and work are two of the most crucial aspects of MSYYLL201501), and all procedures were conducted
a person’s life . Achieving a balance between work and in accordance with Chinese law and the Declaration of
[12]
family life is a significant challenge in individual career Helsinki. The prevalence of burnout among Chinese
development. According to the hypothesis of personal clinicians is 70%, which is used as a parameter to
[14]
resource allocation , there can be competing demands calculate the sample size . The required sample size,
[13]
for attention between work and family. Inter-role conflict which was calculated using PASS 11 software, was 2,065
arises when individuals with multiple roles, such as participants with β = 0.20, α = 0.05, and power (1-β) = 0.8.
parents and workers, struggle to meet the demands of All medical institutions in China are categorized into
each role. When an individual’s work role conflicts with primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals according to
their family life, it results in WFC. WFC is a bidirectional their functions and medical resources. Stratified random
conflict that encompasses both WFC and family–work sampling was used to select hospitals according to the
conflict (FWC) . grading of medical institutions. A total of 75 hospitals
[14]
from 11 provinces in China (Anhui, Jiangsu, Liaoning,
Given that the impact of WFC on family is often more
substantial than that of FWC on work , the study of WFC Shanxi, Hunan, Henan, Sichuan, Heilongjiang, Guizhou,
[15]
Xinjiang, and Yunnan) were included in the study. Finally,
has become a highly sought-after topic. Numerous studies sample groups from these hospitals were chosen using
have demonstrated that WFC contributes to job burnout a straightforward random sampling procedure. Each
in individuals who struggle to manage dual roles [16,17] . participant had a minimum of 1 year’s experience as a
Chen et al. established a noteworthy association between certified doctor working in one of these hospitals.
WFC and EE among physicians in China . Similarly,
[16]
Wang et al. highlighted a significant positive correlation In accordance with the outcomes of a randomized
between elevated levels of WFC and increased rates of sampling approach, we conducted on-site data collection
personal burnout in Chinese female nurses . However, by employing the hospitals as the primary units within
[18]
the relationship between work and family is more than the eastern region. Meanwhile, for the central and western
just a competition for limited resources . Instead, it areas, surveys were administered through the mail with
[19]
involves a complex interplay of different factors in distinct the assistance of designated personnel entrusted with the
directions. For example, good family relationships can tasks of receipt, measurement, retrieval, and subsequent
enrich a person’s working life, or vice versa; a successful return of the questionnaires. Anonymous questionnaires

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1013