The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model

Abstract Background Public health physicians are experiencing increased work stress and workload, leading to heightened negative emotions and presenteeism. This study investigates the relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among primary public health physicians in China and explores the p...

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Main Authors: Xinru Kong, Miaomiao Zhao, Ruyu Li, Zhouxiang Li, Danfeng Chang, Xinyi Zhou, Qiang Ma, Yuexia Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07391-5
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author Xinru Kong
Miaomiao Zhao
Ruyu Li
Zhouxiang Li
Danfeng Chang
Xinyi Zhou
Qiang Ma
Yuexia Gao
author_facet Xinru Kong
Miaomiao Zhao
Ruyu Li
Zhouxiang Li
Danfeng Chang
Xinyi Zhou
Qiang Ma
Yuexia Gao
author_sort Xinru Kong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Public health physicians are experiencing increased work stress and workload, leading to heightened negative emotions and presenteeism. This study investigates the relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among primary public health physicians in China and explores the potential mediating effect of depressive symptoms, and moderating effects of coping styles and organizational support on these associations. Methods 955 primary public health physicians were surveyed from September to December 2022 in China. Presenteeism was assessed using the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6). A moderated mediation model was used to understand the moderating relationship between job burnout (X), depressive symptoms (M) mediated presenteeism (Y), coping styles (W1), and organizational support (W2), controlling for all possible covariates. Results 69.95% of participants showed job burnout in work and 50.16% experienced depressive symptoms, with the average score of presenteeism 16.90 ± 5.74. Job burnout was positively associated with presenteeism score (Effect = 2.23, 95%CI [1.93,2.53]). Mediation analyses revealed that depressive symptoms significantly mediated this relationship (indirect effect = 0.96, 95%CI [0.70,1.25]). Moderated mediation further indicated that the interaction of coping styles and job burnout was negatively related to depressive symptoms, and the interaction of organizational support and depressive symptoms was positively related to presenteeism among public health physicians. Conclusion High job burnout and higher depressive symptoms may contribute to presenteeism. Positive coping styles and appropriate organizational support could buffer the detrimental effects by reducing job burnout and depressive symptoms. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-8ff16812af034348b09a9fe50ad12e332025-08-20T03:22:03ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-05-0125111310.1186/s12909-025-07391-5The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation modelXinru Kong0Miaomiao Zhao1Ruyu Li2Zhouxiang Li3Danfeng Chang4Xinyi Zhou5Qiang Ma6Yuexia Gao7Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong UniversityAbstract Background Public health physicians are experiencing increased work stress and workload, leading to heightened negative emotions and presenteeism. This study investigates the relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among primary public health physicians in China and explores the potential mediating effect of depressive symptoms, and moderating effects of coping styles and organizational support on these associations. Methods 955 primary public health physicians were surveyed from September to December 2022 in China. Presenteeism was assessed using the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6). A moderated mediation model was used to understand the moderating relationship between job burnout (X), depressive symptoms (M) mediated presenteeism (Y), coping styles (W1), and organizational support (W2), controlling for all possible covariates. Results 69.95% of participants showed job burnout in work and 50.16% experienced depressive symptoms, with the average score of presenteeism 16.90 ± 5.74. Job burnout was positively associated with presenteeism score (Effect = 2.23, 95%CI [1.93,2.53]). Mediation analyses revealed that depressive symptoms significantly mediated this relationship (indirect effect = 0.96, 95%CI [0.70,1.25]). Moderated mediation further indicated that the interaction of coping styles and job burnout was negatively related to depressive symptoms, and the interaction of organizational support and depressive symptoms was positively related to presenteeism among public health physicians. Conclusion High job burnout and higher depressive symptoms may contribute to presenteeism. Positive coping styles and appropriate organizational support could buffer the detrimental effects by reducing job burnout and depressive symptoms. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07391-5Job burnoutDepressive symptomsCoping stylesOrganizational supportPresenteeism
spellingShingle Xinru Kong
Miaomiao Zhao
Ruyu Li
Zhouxiang Li
Danfeng Chang
Xinyi Zhou
Qiang Ma
Yuexia Gao
The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model
BMC Medical Education
Job burnout
Depressive symptoms
Coping styles
Organizational support
Presenteeism
title The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model
title_full The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model
title_fullStr The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model
title_short The relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among Chinese primary public health physicians: a moderated mediation model
title_sort relationship between job burnout and presenteeism among chinese primary public health physicians a moderated mediation model
topic Job burnout
Depressive symptoms
Coping styles
Organizational support
Presenteeism
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07391-5
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