Page 50 - JCBP-1-1

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

Table 3. Relationship between EE and WFC in different models
Variable Crude model (β, 95% CI, P) Minimally adjusted model (β, 95% CI, P) Full adjusted model (β, 95% CI, P)
WFC 0.76, 0.71 – 0.81, <0.001 0.75, 0.70 – 0.80, <0.001 0.72, 0.67 – 0.77, <0.001
WFC (quartile)
Q1 (≤13) Ref Ref Ref
Q2 (14 – 16) 2.72, 2.02 –3.41, <0.001 2.69, 1.99 – 3.39, <0.001 2.61, 1.89 – 3.32, <0.001
Q3 (17 – 20) 5.25, 4.58 – 5.93, <0.001 5.26, 4.58 – 5.94, <0.001 4.96, 4.27 – 5.66, <0.001
Q4 (≥21) 9.50, 8.82 – 10.19, <0.001 9.40, 8.71 – 10.09, <0.001 8.90, 8.18 – 9.63, <0.001
P for trend <0.001 <0.001 <0.001
Notes: Crude model is not adjusted for covariants. Minimally adjusted model is adjusted for age and sex. Fully adjusted model is adjusted sex, age,
marital status, education, hospital grade, categories of hospitals, department, work experience, and title.
Abbreviations: CI: Confidence interval; Ref: Reference; EE: Emotional exhaustion; WFC: Work–family conflict; and FWC: Family–work conflict.

Table 4. The results of the two‑piecewise linear regression long working hours, high working requirements, intense
model work dedication, irregular work and rest schedules, and
sleep deprivation [33,34] . In addition, inadequate staffing and
Inflection point of WFC Effect size (β) 95% CI P‑value training, lack of necessary skills and experience, doctor-
<8.0 −0.61 −1.17 – −0.05 0.034 patient contradiction, and other factors also contribute to
≥8.0 0.79 0.74 to 0.85 <0.001 physician EE [35,36] .
Abbreviations: WFC: Work–family conflict; CI: Confidence interval.
However, this study also revealed a negative correlation
between WFC and EE when WFC was <8.0. It is possible
that certain factors related to work, such as personal
accomplishment, income, and identity, can improve
the well-being of employees and help reduce the degree
of job burnout [19,20] . For instance, a meta-analysis on
work–family enrichment revealed a favorable correlation
between work-to-family enrichment and various positive
outcomes, including good physical and mental health,
emotional commitment, job satisfaction, and family
satisfaction . In addition, work values such as hard work
[37]
(frugality and stability), collectivism (priority of group
goals over personal interests), “guanxi” (a transliteration
of the Mandarin term for relationship [relationship
orientation, respect for social order, and protection
of others’ reputation]), and endurance (patience and
persistence) help form a sense of dedication, proactivity,
Figure 1. The relationship between emotional exhaustion and work–
family conflict. A non-linear relationship between them was detected and responsibility within individuals, along with a
[38]
after adjusting for sex, age, marital status, education, hospital grade, strong commitment and loyalty to the organization .
categories of hospitals, department, work experience, and title. Employees with these strong Chinese work values may
possess greater psychological resources to cope with the
relationship was observed when WFC was higher than negative impacts of work stress in face of the rising job
8.0. The previous investigations conducted in various pressure, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of work
developed nations have yielded substantial evidence stress [39,40] .
indicating a significant impact of WFC on the level of In the present study, subgroup analysis was conducted
burnout experienced [29,30] . Similarly, research conducted by employing sex, age, marital status, education, hospital
in China has also revealed adverse consequences of grade, categories of hospital, department, work experience,
pronounced WFC on job burnout [31,32] . There could be and title as stratification variables. The analysis revealed
a number of reasons for this, including the demanding that WFC and EE were positively correlated with each
nature of physicians’ work in China, where the physicians other at all levels of stratification, suggesting that the
often encounter challenges such as excessive workload, positive relationship between WFC and EE is stable. When

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2023) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1013