Emotional Exhaustion and Job Satisfaction Among Healthcare Workers: A Meta-Analytic Review

Introduction: Emotional exhaustion, a core component of burnout, is prevalent among healthcare workers, often leading to decreased job satisfaction and negatively impacting patient care. This meta-analytic review aims to quantify the relationship between emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction among healthcare professionals and identify key factors that exacerbate emotional exhaustion.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase, covering studies published from 2000 to 2024. Studies were included if they assessed emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction using validated tools, such as the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and job satisfaction scales. Data from these studies were pooled, and meta-analyses were performed using Python and R to calculate effect sizes, odds ratios (OR), and mean differences. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and subgroup analyses were performed based on profession, age, and gender.

Results: The analysis included 40 studies with a total of 15,000 healthcare workers. A significant negative correlation was found between emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction (r = -0.63, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.67). Healthcare workers experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion were 2.9 times more likely to report low job satisfaction (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.2-3.8). Predictors of emotional exhaustion included long working hours (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.5-4.6), high patient load (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.9-4.0), and inadequate emotional support (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.7-3.9). Nurses and younger professionals exhibited higher emotional exhaustion levels compared to other subgroups.

Conclusion : Emotional exhaustion significantly decreases job satisfaction among healthcare workers, with long working hours and high patient loads being key contributors. Interventions focusing on reducing emotional exhaustion, such as emotional support programs and better workload management, are essential to improving job satisfaction and retention in healthcare settings. Future research should explore tailored strategies for different healthcare worker subgroups.