Can emotional intelligence and self-efficacy mitigate fear of COVID-19 and burnout among healthcare professionals?

Purpose This study investigates the role of emotional intelligence (EI) and self-efficacy in mitigating the fear of COVID-19 and burnout among healthcare professionals. It seeks to develop a research model with COVID-19 anxiety as the independent variable and self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and burnout as dependent variables. Methodology The study was conducted in public and private hospitals across Hyderabad, India, utilizing a sample size of 654 hospital employees. Data collection was carried out in two phases to minimize common method bias. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to ensure the reliability and validity of the model. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data, revealing significant relationships between COVID-19 anxiety, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and burnout. Mediation analysis confirmed the mediating roles of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy between COVID-19 anxiety and burnout. Findings The study concludes that enhancing emotional intelligence and self-efficacy can alleviate fear and burnout among healthcare professionals. It emphasizes the importance of developing training programs to improve stress tolerance and quality of work among healthcare workers. Originality This study contributes to the existing literature by examining the interplay between COVID-19 anxiety, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and burnout among healthcare professionals. It provides valuable insights into the factors that influence the mental health and job satisfaction of healthcare workers, highlighting the need for interventions to support their well-being.