How Burnout Relates to Authentic Leadership and Work Engagement in Nursing in Italy

This study explores the relationships between nursing burnout, work engagement, and authentic leadership in Italy. It was a cross-sectional study in which the participants completed an online survey comprising three instruments. We found a significant and negative correlation between Personal Accomplishment (PA) and the Internalized Moral Perspective (r = -.108, p = .022) and Vigor (r = -.095, p = .043). Significant differences were assessed in PA levels according to the Internalized Moral Perspective (F = 5.261, p = .022), and lower PA levels also had lower mean scores in Internalized Moral Perspective compared with those reporting moderate or higher PA. The same trend was registered in the Vigor dimension, since lower PA levels reported lower Vigor scores (F = 4.112, p = .043). The findings indicated that reduced feelings of PA could be associated with reduced moral internalization in leadership and lower investment in work engagement.