Organizational silence and occupational burnout in Pediatric nurses: The mediating role of perceived stress

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of perceived stress (PS) in the relationship between organizational silence (OS) and occupational burnout (OB) among pediatric nurses professionals.

A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted using a non-probability sampling design that combined convenience and snowball sampling strategies. From January 2025 to March 2025, nurses were recruited from the pediatric departments of three tertiary hospitals in China. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring OS, PS, and OB. Data were analyzed using correlation analyses and mediation analysis with bootstrap confidence intervals (CI) to test the hypothesized pathways.

The findings indicated notable positive associations between the three variables. OS showed a positive correlation with both PS (β = 0.40, P < .001) and OB (β = 0.36, P < .001). PS was also positively correlated with OB (β = 0.42, P < .001). PS was significantly influenced by OS and, in turn, was a significant predictor of OB. The indirect effect of OS on OB through PS was significant (β = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.09-0.24), accounting for 32.26% of the total effect.

OS is significantly associated with OB among pediatric nurses, and this relationship is partially mediated by PS. Interventions aimed at reducing OS and managing PS may be effective in mitigating burnout in pediatric nurses professionals.

Nursing administrators should establish anonymous feedback channels and structured dialogue sessions to reduce organizational silence. Providing mindfulness-based stress reduction training and peer support groups can enhance nurses' stress management, reducing burnout.