The mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between health anxiety and burnout among healthcare workers working in closed environments

Burnout is a pervasive problem among healthcare professionals, particularly in high-stress environments where psychological demands and uncertainty are constant. Health anxiety, intensified by occupational stressors and perceived health risks, can increase vulnerability to burnout. However, psychological resilience may serve as a protective mechanism that buffers the impact of anxiety on occupational well-being. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between health anxiety and burnout among healthcare workers. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based design was employed. Data were collected from 348 healthcare professionals working in a university hospital in Türkiye. Standardized instruments were used to measure health anxiety, psychological resilience, and burnout. The hypothesized structural model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation and bias-corrected bootstrapping (5,000 resamples). Model fit was evaluated using multiple indices, including χ²/df, RMSEA, CFI, TLI, and SRMR. The final model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (χ²/df = 3.83, RMSEA = 0.090, SRMR = 0.066, CFI = 0.89, TLI = 0.86). Health anxiety significantly and positively predicted burnout (β = 0.522, p < .001) and negatively predicted psychological resilience (β = –0.308, p < .001). Psychological resilience negatively predicted burnout (β = –0.210, p < .001). The indirect effect of health anxiety on burnout via resilience was significant (βindirect = 0.065, 95% BC bootstrap CI [0.032, 0.118]), confirming partial mediation. The model explained 38% of the variance in burnout and 9% in psychological resilience. Health anxiety increases burnout among healthcare professionals, while psychological resilience serves as a partial buffer that mitigates this effect. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing resilience-focused interventions—such as stress management, coping skills, and mindfulness-based training—to protect healthcare workers from the psychological consequences of anxiety and emotional exhaustion. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and cross-cultural samples to validate these relationships and inform evidence-based mental health policies in healthcare institutions. This study highlights the importance of resilience-based interventions for sustaining the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals.