Dispositional Mindfulness as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Burnout in Young Medical Professionals

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the effect of burnout in predicting perceived stress among young doctors. Additionally, it is aimed to explore the mediating role of dispositional mindfulness. A sample of N = 460 young doctors including (n = 249) males and (n = 211) females with age ranging from 22 years to 35 years including house officers, post graduate trainees, medical officers and dentists from public hospitals of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar cities of Pakistan with minimum six months’ job experience. Along with demographic sheet, participants’ responses were collected on Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale and, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Correlation analysis was computed to investigate the relationship between burnout, perceived stress, and dispositional mindfulness. A significant positive relationship between perceived stress and burnout was evidenced whereas, significant negative relationship between perceived stress and dispositional mindfulness, as well between dispositional mindfulness and burnout was reported. Results also showed that females have higher level of perceived stress and lower emotional stability as compared to males. Dispositional mindfulness mediates the relationship between perceived stress and burnout. It is concluded that dispositional mindfulness is a protective factor against negative consequences of perceived stress and also provide some indigenous contributions in existing research in the field of medical profession.