Alexithymia, social support, depression, and burnout among emergency nurses in China: a structural equation model analysis

Several factors are associated with the incidence of burnout, including alexithymia, social support, and depression. The relative importance of these three key parameters as mediators of burnout, however, is not well understood. In addition, there have been few studies to date specifically examining the association between alexithymia and burnout among nurses in China. To evaluate the relationship of burnout with alexithymia, social support, and depression across emergency department nurses in China. This descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sampling methodology to survey nurses responsible for direct emergency care (n = 413) from 18 tertiary hospitals in Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern China between May 2020 and June 2020. A structural equation modeling approach was then used to assess a hypothetical model wherein alexithymia both directly and indirectly affects burnout among emergency nurses via impacting the incidence of depression and perceived social support. Results supported all driving hypotheses. Alexithymia was positive direct correlated with burnout (β = 0.35; P