Work stressors, social support, and burnout in junior doctors: exploring direct and indirect pathways

Abstract

The study tested a pathway model linking different occupational stressors, different sources of social support, and burnout. A sample of 184 junior medical doctors was used. Pathway analysis suggested that doctors who experienced increased time demands, organizational constraints, and a lack of personal confidence perceived their consultants as less supportive, whereas those who experienced greater clinical responsibility perceived their supervisors as more supportive. A lack of support from coworkers was linked with a lack of support from consultants, top management, and family. The perception of consultant support was linked with lower burnout, whereas the perception of coworker support was linked with higher burnout. The present findings may inform interventions aimed to support junior doctors experiencing burnout.