The Impact of Individual and Team-Level Variables on Burnout in Healthcare Providers

This study evaluates the relationships between individual and team-level factors in influencing burnout among clinical healthcare providers. Focusing on psychological safety, perceived autonomy, perceived team effectiveness, and emotional intelligence, the research aims to understand how these elements contribute to the prevalence and severity of burnout symptoms. Using electronic questionnaires analyzed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study sampled 180 healthcare providers from one large US medical center. The study results found that psychological safety significantly decreases levels of burnout, particularly emotional exhaustion. The results on team effectiveness suggest a complex relationship with burnout, with different dimensions having varied impacts. The study did not find support for the negative prediction of burnout by perceived autonomy and emotional intelligence, contrary to expectations based on prior research. These findings have practical implications for healthcare management, stressing the importance of psychological safety and effective team dynamics in reducing burnout. Overall, this study contributes significantly to understanding burnout in healthcare, emphasizing the critical role of team structures and individual emotional resilience in managing workplace well-being.