Evaluating the association between job stress and presenteeism among nurses: the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of leisure crafting

Emotional exhaustion serves as a key psychological mechanism through which job stress translates into presenteeism among nurses. Job stress may exacerbate nurses' susceptibility to suboptimal health by increasing emotional exhaustion, thereby accelerating their progression along the continuum of occupational health deterioration. Nurses experiencing suboptimal health are more likely to engage in presenteeism. Leisure crafting serves as a valuable resource for alleviating emotional exhaustion and mitigating presenteeism among nurses under stress. These results enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying nurse presenteeism and offer practical implications for developing supportive interventions in nursing management.