Burnout syndrome as a mediator for the effect of work-related factors on musculoskeletal complaints among hospital nurses

The present study tested the hypothesis that burnout syndrome mediates effects of work-related factors, factors such as work demands and work stimuli, on the frequency of musculoskeletal complaints among hospital nurses. The sample was composed of 237 nurses from various wards across 4 hospitals located in southwestern Poland. Data was collected through three questionnaires. One of the questionnaires measured work-related factors and contained elements that afforded factor analysis. Results of structural equation modeling with a mediating effect showed that work demands were positively related to burnout syndrome and musculoskeletal complaints, higher work stimuli were associated with lower burnout, but with higher musculoskeletal complaints, and burnout was positively associated with musculoskeletal complaints.Relevance to industryResults of this study illuminate the possible mediating role of professional burnout in the development of work-related musculoskeletal complaints – one of the most common occupational disorders in industrialized countries.