Job burnout among nurses in Hong Kong: Implications for human resource practices and interventions

This study examined the combined influences of organizational characteristics, individual background factors, perceived sources of job stress, and coping resources on job burnout among nurses. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of a random sample of 2267 nurses working in 43 public hospitals in Hong Kong. The questionnaire included multiple-item scales on eight perceived sources of stress, four measures of coping resources, and three dimensions of job burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment). Results obtained from multiple regression analyses showed that all the perceived sources of stress had significant effects on one or more dimensions of job burnout, with job demands and lack of professional recognition having significant effects on all the burnout dimensions. Self-efficacy appeared to be the most effective coping resource as it had significant negative effects on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and a positive effect on personal accomplishment. © 2007 Australian Human Resources Institute.