Burnout as a Predictor of Job Satisfaction in Peruvian Nurses: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement

Background: Burnout and job satisfaction are widely studied phenomena within the field of occupational health, particularly among nursing professionals exposed to high work demands. Work engagement has been identified as a potential mediator that may buffer the negative effects of burnout on job satisfaction. However, in the Peruvian context, empirical evidence on this relational dynamic remains limited. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction among Peruvian nurses using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Methods: An explanatory study was conducted with a sample of 230 Peruvian nurses (M = 41.22, SD = 11.65). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: Burnout showed significant negative correlations with work engagement (r = −0.47, p < 0.01) and job satisfaction (r = −0.41, p < 0.01), while work engagement was positively associated with job satisfaction (r = 0.79, p < 0.01). The structural model demonstrated a good fit (CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.06, and SRMR = 0.04). The model also indicated solid overall fit and revealed a significant indirect effect of burnout on job satisfaction through engagement, accounting for approximately 24% of the variance in engagement and 80% of the variance in job satisfaction. Conclusions: The findings confirm that work engagement fully mediates the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction among Peruvian nurses, serving as a key protective psychosocial resource. These results reinforce the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model and highlight the importance of implementing organizational interventions aimed at strengthening work engagement as a strategy to improve satisfaction and well-being in demanding healthcare settings.