Exploring the Role of Meaning in Life in Relation to Burn-Out Symptoms Among Early and Mid-Career Nurses: A...

Burnout negatively affects nurses' well-being and patient care. This study examines whether meaning in life, conceptualized as presence (sense that life is meaningful) and search (active pursuit of meaning), is associated with burnout symptoms among early- and mid-career nurses. Additionally, we explore whether job resources (influence at work, supervisor and colleague support, and professional development) moderate these associations.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from a longitudinal panel study among 375 nurses (≤ 10 years of experience) across six hospitals in Flanders, Belgium. Data were collected via an online survey in March-April 2024. Burnout symptoms were assessed using the Burnout Assessment Tool, and meaning in life using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Job resources, including supervisor and colleague support, influence at work, and professional development, were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and tested as moderators. Demographic and occupational variables were included as covariates. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regressions were performed.

Presence of meaning was negatively associated with burnout symptoms (B = -0.037, p < 0.001), whereas search for meaning was positively associated with burnout (B = 0.011, p < 0.05). Job resources moderated these associations. The negative association between presence of meaning and symptoms such as exhaustion and emotional dysregulation was stronger in high-resource contexts. In contrast, the positive association between search for meaning and symptoms like exhaustion and mental distancing was only observed in low-resource contexts.

Presence and search for meaning relate differently to burnout symptoms. Presence was linked to fewer symptoms, while search showed a positive association, especially in low-resource settings. Strengthening job resources and supporting a stable sense of meaning, rather than prolonged search, may contribute to nurses' well-being. Targeted initiatives such as mentorship and career development could help foster resilience and meaningful work engagement.