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The Role of Moral Distress on Physician Burnout during COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Caitlin A. J. Powell

    (Department of Psychology, Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, KY 41017, USA)

  • John P. Butler

    (Department of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of moral distress on physician burnout during COVID-19. Physicians in the US were interviewed between February and March 2021; 479 responded to our survey. The results indicated that moral distress was a key mediator in explaining the relationship between perceived organizational support, medical specialization, emotional labor, and coping with burnout. Results did not support increased burnout among female physicians, and contracting COVID-19 likewise did not play a role in burnout. Our findings suggest that physician burnout can be mitigated by increasing perceived organizational support; likewise, physicians who engaged in deep emotional labor and problem-focused coping tended to fare better when it came to feelings of moral distress and subsequent burnout.

Suggested Citation

  • Caitlin A. J. Powell & John P. Butler, 2022. "The Role of Moral Distress on Physician Burnout during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6066-:d:817067
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cohen, Jennifer & Rodgers, Yana, 2020. "Contributing Factors to Personal Protective Equipment Shortages during the COVID-19 Pandemic," MPRA Paper 103496, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Alessandro de Sire & Nicola Marotta & Simona Raimo & Lorenzo Lippi & Maria Teresa Inzitari & Anna Tasselli & Alessandra Gimigliano & Liana Palermo & Marco Invernizzi & Antonio Ammendolia, 2021. "Psychological Distress and Work Environment Perception by Physical Therapists from Southern Italy during COVID-19 Pandemic: The C.A.L.A.B.R.I.A Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Yoshito Nishimura & Tomoko Miyoshi & Hideharu Hagiya & Yoshinori Kosaki & Fumio Otsuka, 2021. "Burnout of Healthcare Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-8, March.
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