The association between emotional intelligence and burnout among Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background: Nurse burnout is a widespread global occupational health challenge in healthcare. However, the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and burnout remains relatively under-investigated within China's collectivist cultural context. What is the magnitude and direction of the association between EI and burnout among nurses in Chinese tertiary hospitals? Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 308 eligible nurses from a Chinese tertiary hospital, using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: < 0.01). Conclusion: EI is significantly associated with all three burnout dimensions among Chinese tertiary hospital nurses, providing preliminary evidence for EI-focused burnout mitigation strategies and related research in the Chinese context.