The mediating role of burnout in the association between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss

Abstract

Occupational stress and burnout are increasingly recognized as major contributors to reduced productivity in modern workplaces. In this study, we explored the association between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss through the mediating effect of burnout syndrome in Korean workers. This study was conducted using a sample of 5,050 participants from 5,553 randomly selected individuals, after excluding those with missing data. The key variables were measured using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS^® 19), the Korean version of the Burnout Syndrome Scale (KBOSS), and the Korean version of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health (WPAI-GH) questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using generalized linear models, and mediation analysis. The results revealed a significant association among occupational stress, burnout, and health-related productivity losses. Burnout was found to mediate the relationship between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss, with approximately 51% of the effect being mediated by burnout. Among the burnout sub-dimensions, the mediating effect of exhaustion was the highest. These results suggest that managing occupational stress and burnout can play a crucial role in reducing health-related productivity losses.