Investigating influential factors and mechanisms of surgical resident well-being using social network analysis

Burnout and depression in General Surgery residents affect patient care and drive attrition. Few impactful interventions exist, in part because little is known about influential drivers and mechanistic relationships.

Residents from 16 general surgery programs completed published well-being scales in January 2021. Social network analysis demonstrated influential relationships between factors, and path analysis revealed drivers of burnout and depression.

300 residents completed the survey (34% response rate). Workplace demand and mindfulness influenced depressive symptoms and emotional exhaustion, mediated by perceived stress. Mindfulness increased personal accomplishment, mediated by psychological well-being (p ​< ​0.05 for all results). All mediated effects were greater than direct effects.

This study yielded a quantitative conceptual model of mechanistic relationships affecting well-being in surgical residency, identifying stress and psychological well-being (measuring sense of purpose) as central mediators, and triangulating workplace demand and mindfulness as potentially high-yield interventional targets for reducing burnout and depression in surgical residency.