A study on the psychosocial work environment, burnout, and psychosomatic health of nurses working in a tertiary healthcare institution

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the psychosocial work environment, burnout, and psychosomatic symptoms. The sample comprised 402 nurses working at a tertiary healthcare facility in Konya, Türkiye. A census approach was used to include the entire population, achieving a 96% response rate. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of 46 items organized into four sections: participant information form, psychosocial work environment questions, burnout scale, and psychosomatic symptoms scale. Data collection was conducted face-to-face between September 2018 and January 2019. Female nurses and those with more than four years of experience reported higher scores in stressful situations, emotionally provoking situations, burnout, and psychosomatic symptoms. Conversely, nurses who were newer to the profession reported receiving greater social support. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that approximately 44% of the variance in psychosomatic symptoms could be explained by demographic variables, psychosocial work environment and burnout. Professional tenure, emotional exhaustion, stressful situations, and emotionally provoking situations were associated with higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms, whereas male gender and social support were associated with lower levels. In conclusion, emotionally demanding and high-pressure work environments were associated with increased psychosomatic symptoms, while supportive work environment was associated with lower levels of symptoms.