Occupational determinants of burnout among Chinese anesthesiologists: a multicenter cross-sectional study based on the Job Demands–Resources model

Abstract

Burnout among healthcare professionals is an important occupational health concern that may negatively affect individual well-being, healthcare workforce sustainability, and quality of care. Anesthesiologists are particularly vulnerable to burnout due to high workload, clinical responsibility, time pressure, and irregular working schedules. However, the occupational mechanisms underlying burnout among anesthesiologists remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the associations of job demands and job resources with burnout among Chinese anesthesiologists based on the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model. A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted among anesthesiologists from 72 hospitals across 22 provinces in China from June 16 to June 30, 2026. The ethics exemption was approved on June 11, 2026. Participants were recruited using a multicenter purposive sampling method and completed a general information questionnaire, a JD–R model-based questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Burnout status was assessed according to established criteria. Differences in demographic and occupational characteristics between burnout and non-burnout groups were examined using chi-square tests. Spearman correlation analyses were performed to evaluate associations between job demands, job resources, and burnout dimensions. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors independently associated with burnout. All statistical analyses were performed using R software and RStudio (version 2026.01.2 + 418). Among the 698 anesthesiologists included in the analysis, 324 (46.4%) met the criteria for burnout. Significant differences between burnout and non-burnout groups were observed in sex, age, educational level, marital status, professional title, work experience, weekly working hours, and number of night shifts. Higher job demands were positively correlated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, whereas greater job resources showed negative correlations with all three burnout dimensions. In the fully adjusted model (Model 4), participants aged 31–40 years (vs. ≤ 30 years: OR = 9.677, 95% CI 2.287–40.940) and 41–50 years (OR = 8.305, 95% CI 1.705–40.463) had higher odds of burnout, whereas married participants (vs. unmarried: OR = 0.221, 95% CI 0.096–0.508) and those with more than 10 years of work experience (vs. < 5 years: OR = 0.178, 95% CI 0.050–0.638) had lower odds. At the sample mean of job resources, higher job demands were associated with higher odds of burnout (OR = 1.287, 95% CI 1.228–1.350); at the sample mean of job demands, higher job resources were associated with lower odds (OR = 0.850, 95% CI 0.808–0.893). Their interaction was statistically significant (OR = 1.009, 95% CI 1.003–1.016, P = 0.006). Burnout is relatively common among Chinese anesthesiologists and represents an important occupational health challenge. Consistent with the JD–R model, higher job demands were associated with increased likelihood of burnout, whereas greater job resources were associated with reduced likelihood after adjustment for demographic and occupational factors. These findings may inform future evaluations of organizational strategies that optimize workload and strengthen workplace resources.