The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout

Abstract Background The mental health of mental health care professionals has become a key area of research due to the increasing demands and stressors inherent in the work environment. This study explored the relationship between night shift work stress, burnout, social support, and physical and me...

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Main Authors: Chien-Chih Chen, Lieh-Yung Ping, Yu-Li Lan, Chih-Yu Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06701-x
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author Chien-Chih Chen
Lieh-Yung Ping
Yu-Li Lan
Chih-Yu Huang
author_facet Chien-Chih Chen
Lieh-Yung Ping
Yu-Li Lan
Chih-Yu Huang
author_sort Chien-Chih Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The mental health of mental health care professionals has become a key area of research due to the increasing demands and stressors inherent in the work environment. This study explored the relationship between night shift work stress, burnout, social support, and physical and mental health among psychiatric medical staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 244 psychiatric medical staff at a psychiatric specialty hospital in eastern Taiwan. The study utilized validated instruments, including the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Social Support Scale, and the SF-12 Health Survey, to measure work stress, burnout, social support, and health outcomes. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among these variables and the moderating effects of social support. Results The findings revealed significant positive correlations between work stress and occupational burnout (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and negative correlations with physical and mental health (r = − 0.23, p < 0.001). Occupational burnout is a negative significant predictor of physical and mental health (β = -0.533, p < 0.001). Additionally, higher levels of social support were associated with better health outcomes (r = 0.18, p < 0.01), although its moderating effect on the relationship between stress and health was not significant. Conclusion This study highlights the significant impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff. The findings suggest that interventions to reduce the negative impacts of night shifts are crucial, such as improving shift systems, increasing organizational support, and providing targeted mental health programs. These measures will help enhance night shift workers’ health and job satisfaction, improving the overall quality of health care services.
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spelling doaj-art-53cbdb4606d5446c9960ee47b2a74b952025-08-20T02:41:34ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-03-0125111010.1186/s12888-025-06701-xThe impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnoutChien-Chih Chen0Lieh-Yung Ping1Yu-Li Lan2Chih-Yu Huang3Department of LOHAS Industry, Fo Guang UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Yuli BranchDepartment of Health Administration, Tzu Chi UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Yuli BranchAbstract Background The mental health of mental health care professionals has become a key area of research due to the increasing demands and stressors inherent in the work environment. This study explored the relationship between night shift work stress, burnout, social support, and physical and mental health among psychiatric medical staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 244 psychiatric medical staff at a psychiatric specialty hospital in eastern Taiwan. The study utilized validated instruments, including the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Social Support Scale, and the SF-12 Health Survey, to measure work stress, burnout, social support, and health outcomes. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships among these variables and the moderating effects of social support. Results The findings revealed significant positive correlations between work stress and occupational burnout (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and negative correlations with physical and mental health (r = − 0.23, p < 0.001). Occupational burnout is a negative significant predictor of physical and mental health (β = -0.533, p < 0.001). Additionally, higher levels of social support were associated with better health outcomes (r = 0.18, p < 0.01), although its moderating effect on the relationship between stress and health was not significant. Conclusion This study highlights the significant impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff. The findings suggest that interventions to reduce the negative impacts of night shifts are crucial, such as improving shift systems, increasing organizational support, and providing targeted mental health programs. These measures will help enhance night shift workers’ health and job satisfaction, improving the overall quality of health care services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06701-xNight shiftWork stressOccupational burnoutSocial supportPhysical and mental healthPsychiatric medical staff
spellingShingle Chien-Chih Chen
Lieh-Yung Ping
Yu-Li Lan
Chih-Yu Huang
The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout
BMC Psychiatry
Night shift
Work stress
Occupational burnout
Social support
Physical and mental health
Psychiatric medical staff
title The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout
title_full The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout
title_fullStr The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout
title_full_unstemmed The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout
title_short The impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff: the influence of occupational burnout
title_sort impact of night shifts on the physical and mental health of psychiatric medical staff the influence of occupational burnout
topic Night shift
Work stress
Occupational burnout
Social support
Physical and mental health
Psychiatric medical staff
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06701-x
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