The mediating role of job burnout in the effect of conflict management on work stress in nurses

Abstract

In the health sector, which is one of the sectors where human interaction is intense, nurses experience work stress for various reasons. Conflict management skills of nurses have an important role in overcoming the obstacles caused by work stress (such as job burnout). The effect of conflict management on work stress varies according to job burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating role of job burnout in the effect of conflict management on work stress in nurses. A total of 392 nurses working in Şanlıurfa province in Turkey participated in the study. The survey method was used for the study in which the participants were included between 24.04.2023 and 02.05.2023, both face-to-face and online. The questionnaire includes questions about the personal characteristics of nurses, as well as the General Work Stress Scale, Job Burnout Scale, and Conflict Management Scale as measurement tools. There is a negative and significant relationship between conflict management and work stress (r=) and job burnout. There is a positive and significant relationship between work stress (r=-.574, p < .01) and job burnout (r=-.573, p < .01). It has been determined that job burnout has a mediating role in the effect of conflict management on work stress. It is recommended to develop nurses’ conflict management skills.