Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a higher probability of adverse physical and emotional conditions. Yet, there remains limited understanding regarding the correlation between ACEs and job burnout, and the role of sleep duration as a potential mediator in t...

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Main Authors: Mingmin Xu, Qin Tian, Hongyuan Peng, Linfei Dou, Xinghua Yang, Xirennayi Abudurexiti, Zheng Zhang, Mingyang Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nursing
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03558-z
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author Mingmin Xu
Qin Tian
Hongyuan Peng
Linfei Dou
Xinghua Yang
Xirennayi Abudurexiti
Zheng Zhang
Mingyang Wu
author_facet Mingmin Xu
Qin Tian
Hongyuan Peng
Linfei Dou
Xinghua Yang
Xirennayi Abudurexiti
Zheng Zhang
Mingyang Wu
author_sort Mingmin Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a higher probability of adverse physical and emotional conditions. Yet, there remains limited understanding regarding the correlation between ACEs and job burnout, and the role of sleep duration as a potential mediator in this relationship remains largely understudied. Methods From December 2023 to February 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit nursing interns from multiple hospitals in Hunan Province, China. Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey were used to collect data. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between ACEs and job burnout, while mediation analysis was used to investigate the potential mediating role of sleep duration in the relationship between ACEs and job burnout. Results Among the 1055 participants, 412 (39.1%) reported experiencing at least one type of ACE, with 124 (11.7%) reporting four or more type of ACEs. A total of 265 interns were identified as experiencing job burnout. After adjusting for potential covariates, participants with high ACE exposure (≥ 4) showed significantly higher odds of job burnout compared to those with low ACE exposure (0–1) (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.57). In addition, each unit increase in ACEs was associated with decreased sleep duration (β: -3.14, 95%CI: -5.60, -0.69). Mediation analysis confirmed that sleep duration partially mediated the association between ACEs and job burnout (indirect effect: 0.0019, 95%CI: 0.0004, 0.004; direct effect: 0.0116, 95%CI: 0.0013, 0.0214), accounting for 13.62% of the total effect. Conclusions This study suggests more ACE exposure was associated with an increased likelihood of job burnout among nursing interns, with sleep duration playing a partial mediating role in this relationship. Clinical Trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-08a8ddbd069e4932ab0e46281cee69022025-08-20T03:42:40ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-07-012411810.1186/s12912-025-03558-zAdverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep durationMingmin Xu0Qin Tian1Hongyuan Peng2Linfei Dou3Xinghua Yang4Xirennayi Abudurexiti5Zheng Zhang6Mingyang Wu7Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan ProvinceMaternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan ProvinceMaternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South UniversityDepartment of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South UniversityDepartment of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South UniversityDepartment of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South UniversityDepartment of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South UniversityAbstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a higher probability of adverse physical and emotional conditions. Yet, there remains limited understanding regarding the correlation between ACEs and job burnout, and the role of sleep duration as a potential mediator in this relationship remains largely understudied. Methods From December 2023 to February 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit nursing interns from multiple hospitals in Hunan Province, China. Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey were used to collect data. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between ACEs and job burnout, while mediation analysis was used to investigate the potential mediating role of sleep duration in the relationship between ACEs and job burnout. Results Among the 1055 participants, 412 (39.1%) reported experiencing at least one type of ACE, with 124 (11.7%) reporting four or more type of ACEs. A total of 265 interns were identified as experiencing job burnout. After adjusting for potential covariates, participants with high ACE exposure (≥ 4) showed significantly higher odds of job burnout compared to those with low ACE exposure (0–1) (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.57). In addition, each unit increase in ACEs was associated with decreased sleep duration (β: -3.14, 95%CI: -5.60, -0.69). Mediation analysis confirmed that sleep duration partially mediated the association between ACEs and job burnout (indirect effect: 0.0019, 95%CI: 0.0004, 0.004; direct effect: 0.0116, 95%CI: 0.0013, 0.0214), accounting for 13.62% of the total effect. Conclusions This study suggests more ACE exposure was associated with an increased likelihood of job burnout among nursing interns, with sleep duration playing a partial mediating role in this relationship. Clinical Trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03558-zAdverse childhood experiencesJob burnoutSleep durationMediationNursing interns
spellingShingle Mingmin Xu
Qin Tian
Hongyuan Peng
Linfei Dou
Xinghua Yang
Xirennayi Abudurexiti
Zheng Zhang
Mingyang Wu
Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration
BMC Nursing
Adverse childhood experiences
Job burnout
Sleep duration
Mediation
Nursing interns
title Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration
title_full Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration
title_fullStr Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration
title_full_unstemmed Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration
title_short Adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns: the mediation role of sleep duration
title_sort adverse childhood experiences are associated with job burnout in nursing interns the mediation role of sleep duration
topic Adverse childhood experiences
Job burnout
Sleep duration
Mediation
Nursing interns
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03558-z
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