Resilience as a Mediator Between Burnout and Health Among Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional...

To evaluate the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between burnout dimensions and the physical and mental health of nurses in December 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Observational correlational study with a quantitative, cross-sectional approach.

A total of 256 nurses participated by completing an online survey in December 2021. Sociodemographic data were collected, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey version 2 were administered.

Resilience showed statistically significant indirect effects linking emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation to poorer mental health (negative indirect effects) and personal accomplishment to better mental health (positive indirect effect). Indirect effects involving physical health were smaller and less consistent: no indirect effect was observed for emotional exhaustion, whereas depersonalisation showed a small negative indirect effect and personal accomplishment showed a positive indirect effect through resilience. Resilience differed by sex and age, with men showing greater resilience.

Findings are consistent with resilience being associated with mental health and statistically accounting for part of the association between burnout dimensions and mental health. Given the cross-sectional design, causal direction cannot be inferred; resilience-focused interventions should be evaluated in longitudinal and experimental studies.

Resilience is associated with better mental health and may represent a promising target for future intervention studies. Healthcare institutions could consider resilience-support strategies alongside organisational measures to address burnout while evaluating their effectiveness using robust designs.

What problem did the study address? It explored how resilience can mediate the relationship between burnout and the physical and mental health of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. What were the main findings? Resilience statistically accounted for part of the association between burnout dimensions and mental health, while indirect associations involving physical health were more heterogeneous and dimension-specific. Where and on whom will the research impact? The findings will impact nurses in the Valencian Community and can extend to nursing professionals in similar contexts, informing practices and policies to improve well-being and patient care.

The EQUATOR STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional observational studies were followed, ensuring the quality and transparency of the report.

No patient or public contributed to the design or conduct of the study, the analysis or interpretation of the data, or the preparation of the manuscript.