Affective Commitment Influences Occupational Stressors Among Maternal and Child Health Nurses via Job Burnout as a Mediator

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of job burnout between affective commitment and occupational stressors among nurses working in maternal and child health settings, with the goal of informing strategies to enhance both physical and psychological well-being while supporting the quality and safety of nursing care. Methods: Maternal and child health nurses were recruited from a tertiary care hospital in Tongzhou District, Beijing between July and August 2024. Correlations among affective commitment, job burnout, and occupational stressors were assessed. The mediating role of job burnout was evaluated using structural equation modeling, and a model was constructed to verify the hypothesized affective commitment–job burnout–occupational stressors pathway. Results: The average item scores were 3.84 ± 1.48 for job burnout, 1.99 ± 0.75 for occupational stressors, and 3.60 ± 1.09 for affective commitment. Pearson’s correlation coefficients indicated that affective commitment was negatively associated with both job burnout and occupational stressors, while job burnout was positively associated with occupational stressors. Structural equation modeling revealed that job burnout significantly mediated the relationship between affective commitment and occupational stressors, with an indirect effect value of −0.344, accounting for 35.16% of the total effect. Conclusion: Moderate levels of affective commitment, job burnout, and occupational stressors were observed among maternal and child health nurses. Job burnout played a mediating role between affective commitment and occupational stressors. Interventions aimed at enhancing organizational climate and mitigating job burnout may contribute to reduced occupational stress in this population.