Levels of emotional exhaustion and its relationship with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in ICU nurses: the moderating effect of mindfulness
LU Fang, XU Yuanyuan, YU Yongju, Peng Li
Di-san junyi daxue xuebao June 18, 2021 DOI: 10.16016/j.1000-5404.201901097 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 500 |
| Population | Chinese intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in 11 provinces and cities |
| Measures | Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS) emotional exhaustion dimension, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Chinese Version (FFMQ-CH), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) |
| Topics | Meditation Depression |
| Keywords | Emotional exhaustion Depressive symptom Posttraumatic stress disorder Intensive care unit Nurses |
| Key findings | Among 500 Chinese ICU nurses, emotional exhaustion averaged 20.82 on the MBI-HSS emotional exhaustion subscale and was negatively correlated with mindfulness (r=-0.80) and positively correlated with depression (r=0.61) and PTSD symptoms (r=0.42). The authors report that mindfulness moderated the relationship of emotional exhaustion with depression and PTSD symptoms, and conclude that greater mindfulness may help nurses reduce these symptoms. |
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the level of emotional exhaustion and its relationship with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and explore the moderating effects of mindfulness.
Methods: From March, 2016 to April 2017, we conducted a survey of the levels of emotional exhaustion, mindfulness, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among 500 Chinese ICU nurses in 11 provinces and cities using the Dimension of Emotional Exhaustion in Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Chinese Version (FFMQ-CH), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C).
Results: The mean score of emotional exhaustion was 20.82±9.79 among the ICU nurses participated in this survey. The level of emotional exhaustion differed significantly between male and female nurses (F=1.4, P < 0.05) and among those with different ICU working experiences (F=3.85, P < 0.05). Emotional exhaustion was negatively correlated with mindfulness (r=-0.80, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with depression (r=0.61, P < 0.01) and posttraumatic stress disorder (r=0.42, P < 0.01). Mindfulness moderated the relationship of emotional exhaustion with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Conclusion: The level of emotional exhaustion is closely correlated with mindfulness, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in ICU nurses. An increased mindfulness level can help the nurses reduce depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms to promote their psychological wellbeing.