The impact of ethical climate and the LMX relationship on nurses’ burnout in hospitals in Serbia

Burnout contributes to the emergence of numerous negative organisational phenomena. Nurses are exposed to high stress working conditions every day, making it important to study burnout among nurses in health care systems. The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of ethical climate and the LMX relationship on burnout among nurses, as well as to examine the effects of the three moderators (gender, self-awareness and social skills among nurses) on the observed relationships. The sample consists of 326 nurses from 23 hospitals in Serbia. Standardised questionnaires were used, while correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were employed for statistical processing. The dimensions of the ethical climate and LMX relationship have statistically significant impacts and predictive effects on the burnout dimensions. Raising the level of the ethical climate and LMX relationship positively affects burnout: it reduces emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and increases personal accomplishment and involvement. An adverse ethical climate and unfavourable LMX relationships among men cause greater emotional exhaustion. For nurses with high self-awareness and high social skills, a favourable ethical climate and positive LMX relationships reduce emotional exhaustion, and increase personal accomplishment. For nurses with low self-awareness and low social skills, a favourable ethical climate and positive LMX relationships reduce depersonalisation. Recommendations are made for improving the ethical climate and LMX relationships in hospitals in Serbia.