Factors Associated With Circadian Rhythm, Job Burnout, And Perceived Stress Among Nurses In Chinese Tertiary Hospitals: A cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Shift work is a common work pattern for nurses worldwide. Circadian rhythm dysregulation affects the quality of nurses’ work and their physical and psychological health. Eveningness and occupational stress might be associated with burnout syndrome.Methods: A Cross-sectional study design. Between July and September 2020, 23 tertiary hospitals were randomly selected from among 113 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province for participation in this study. At least 25% of the nurses working in each hospital were targeted. Nurses’ circadian rhythm, job burnout, and perceived stress were evaluated. This paper complies with the STROBE reporting guideline for cross-sectional studies.Results: A total of 28.1% and 17.6% of nurses reported eveningness type and morningness type, respectively. The scores for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and perceived stress of eveningness nurses were higher than those of their morningness counterparts. Eveningness nurses also reported a lower sense of personal accomplishment (P<.05). Predictors of MEQ score included age 36-40 years, widowed or divorced, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, history of chronic disease, working for 11-20 years or 21 years and above, emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, perceived stress.Conclusions: A large proportion of nurses experience circadian rhythm dysregulation. It is necessary to understand the predictors and influencing factors of circadian rhythm dysregulation in nurses to relieve their job burnout and reduce perceived stress.