Job stress and burnout among hospital administrative staff: a cross-sectional study

Although job stress and burnout have been widely studied among physicians and nurses, hospital administrative staff, who play a critical role in healthcare delivery, have received comparatively less attention. This study aims to assess job stress, burnout, and their association among hospital administrative staff. This cross-sectional study targeted hospital administrative staff from a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. A questionnaire was conducted from October to December 2023, covering the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire, and sociodemographic information. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between job stress and burnout. A total of 117 hospital administrative staff participated in the study, with a mean age of 38.56 years, and the majority (79.5%) were female. Based on responses to the Job Content Questionnaire, participants reported moderate levels of job control, high psychological job demands, moderate physical job demands, and high social support. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory indicated that they experienced moderate levels of both personal and work-related burnout, while client-related burnout was relatively low. After adjusting for potential confounders, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that physical job demands (B = 7.43, p = 0.01) and social support (B = -1.24, p = 0.03) were significant predictors of personal burnout. Similarly, work-related burnout was significantly associated with being aged 40-49 (B = -11.40, p = 0.03), aged 50 or above (B = -13.81, p = 0.03), higher physical job demands (B = 7.22, p = 0.02), and lower social support (B = -1.28, p = 0.04). No significant factors were identified for client-related burnout. This study reveals that among hospital administrative staff, job demands and social support are key factors of burnout. These findings suggest that interventions should prioritize reducing physical job demands and strengthening workplace social support. Future research should explore the mechanisms linking these factors to burnout and evaluate targeted interventions across diverse healthcare settings.