Mediation Effect of Musculoskeletal Pain on Burnout: Sex-Related Differences

Burnout occurs when people are exposed to emotionally demanding work situations over an extended period, resulting in physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. This study adopted the personal burnout (PB) and work-related burnout (WB) scales of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory to measure burnout levels. Musculoskeletal (MS) pain is one factor influencing burnout. Previous studies have demonstrated that male and female hormones may contribute to sex-related differences in MS pain. This was an observational and cross-sectional study conducted at a medical-university-affiliated hospital in Taichung, Taiwan, in 2021. Data were collected for demographic characteristics, family structure, living habits, occupation, physical health, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire score, and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory score. Of the 2531 questionnaires that were distributed, 1615 (63.81%) valid questionnaires remained after those with missing data were excluded. The results demonstrated neck and shoulder pain (NBSP) is commonly associated with burnout among healthcare workers, with a higher prevalence among women than among men. With confounders being controlled for, women were found to experience substantially higher levels of personal and work-related burnout than men did. NBSP is a mediating factor; therefore, it is a key reason why women are more likely than men to experience burnout.