The Relationship between Perceived Social Support, Psychological Capital, Job Burnout, and Work Engagement in Nurses Working On The Front Line Of The Fight Against The Coronavirus

Abstract Background Due to the coronavirus epidemic, nurses on the front line of caring for infected patients are always faced with many job stressors, and one of the most inevitable consequences is job burnout, which can cause challenges for work engagement. This study used structural equation modeling to determine the effects of psychological capital and perceived social support on job burnout and work. Methods This study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical type. 306 nurses on the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus in the public hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences were selected by multi-stage random stratification. The data collection process lasted from September 19 to November 19, 2021. To collect data from Zimet et al. perceived social support questionnaire, Lutans psychological capital questionnaire, Utrecht work engagement scale, and Maslach burnout inventory. PLS3 and SPSS25 software were used to analyze the data. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Social welfare and Rehabilitation under the number IR.USWR.REC.1400.105. Results More than half of the people were women, married, under 40 years old, with a bachelor's degree, with over 10 years of work experience, and over one year of experience in corona departments. The fit indices of the research model were favorable (GOF > 0.529) and the research model fit was confirmed. Also, based on the path coefficient there was a significant negative relationship between perceived social support with job burnout (β=-0/115) and psychological capital with job burnout (β=-0/503) and a significant positive relationship between perceived social support with work engagement (β = 0/132) and between psychological capital with work engagement (β = 0/607) (P˂0.05). Conclusions Considering the inevitable effect of perceived social support and psychological capital on reducing job burnout and increasing work engagement; our findings can be used To develop the occupational health of employees and then to develop the quality of health care services by health managers and policymakers. Also, interventions based on social support and psychological capital can be identified and studied as a new area for effective psychological interventions among nurses.