A Cross-sectional Survey on the Relationship Between Nurses’ Fear of COVID-19 Infection and Burnout: The Moderating Role of Psychological Capital

Abstract

The aims of this research were to uncover whether nurses’ fear of catching COVID-19 resulted in burnout, whether their psychological capital remediated the fear of catching COVID-19 and burnout, and whether it moderated the prospective association between fear of catching COVID-19 and burnout. A deductive, explanatory and cross-sectional design has been employed in this research. The sample consisted of 734 nurses from Istanbul, Turkey. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data between 14 April and 11 May 2021. Discrepancies between average scores of variables were investigated according to the pandemic-related criteria through t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to analyse proposed relationships. Findings indicated that nurses from public pandemic hospitals reported the highest levels of burnout and fear of infection and the lowest levels of psychological capital components. Fear of COVID-19 infection resulted in burnout more weakly among nurses who had a high level of psychological resilience. Optimism impacted burnout negatively. Hope impacted the fear of catching COVID-19 negatively.