The relationship between job demands, rumination, and burnout among healthcare professionals in Türkiye: a mediation model

Background While burnout has reached alarming levels globally, the psychological processes linking different job demands to burnout remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examines whether rumination is associated with the relationship between job demands (workload, emotional demands, and emotional dissonance) and burnout. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed using convenience sampling. Data were collected from 408 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and other staff) in Türkiye using validated self-report measures. The proposed relationships were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results Among the job demands, workload was positively associated with burnout, with no significant indirect association through rumination. In contrast, emotional demands and emotional dissonance did not show significant direct associations with burnout; however, both variables showed significant indirect associations with burnout through rumination. Conclusions The findings suggest that rumination-related cognitive processes play a role in the associations of emotional demands and emotional dissonance with burnout, whereas the association between workload and burnout appears to be more direct. These findings highlight the potential relevance of emotional experiences and rumination in understanding burnout among healthcare professionals.