Burnout, Professional Self-Efficacy, and Life Satisfaction as Predictors of Job Performance in Health Care Workers: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement

Background: It is essential to identify the factors that influence the work performance of health professionals working in health care facilities, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, since these factors have an impact on the quality of medical care provided to the population. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between job burnout, professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and job performance in Peruvian health care workers. Methods: Cross-sectional explanatory study, with the voluntary participation of 508 health professionals (physicians and nurses) of both sexes (70.7% women, 29.3% men), and from different health facilities in the city of Lima. All participants were administered the Single Burnout Item questionnaire, the Professional Self-Efficacy Scale (AU-10), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWL), the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis. Results: In the SEM analysis, it was found that for the mediation model the incremental goodness-of-fit indices were significant (chi(2) = 2292.313, gl = 659, P < .001, chi(2)/gl = 2.788). Career self-efficacy (beta = .557, P < .001) and life satisfaction (beta = .289, P < .001) were positive predictors of work engagement. While burnout was a negative predictor (beta = .878, P < .001). The consistent mediation of work engagement of professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and burnout had a positive predictor effect on job performance (beta = .878, P < .001). Conclusion: Research provides evidence that professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and burnout could influence job performance through work engagement.

Automated summary

This study aimed to analyze the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between job burnout, professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and job performance in Peruvian health care workers. The results showed that professional self-efficacy and life satisfaction were positive predictors of work engagement, while burnout was a negative predictor. The consistent mediation of work engagement had a positive effect on job performance.