Sleep Quality, Psychological Inflexibility, and Work–Private-Life Interference in Relation to Emotional Exhaustion Among Ecuadorian Nursing Assistants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Evidence concerning emotional exhaustion among nursing assistants in Ecuador remains limited. This exploratory cross-sectional study examined associations of sleep quality, psychological inflexibility, and study-specific work–private-life interference with emotional exhaustion. The focus on emotional exhaustion as the sole outcome was selected during manuscript revision and was not prospectively prespecified. Methods: This analysis included 314 nursing assistants recruited through convenience sampling; 290 had calculable Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores and contributed to PSQI-dependent regression models. Emotional exhaustion was assessed using the nine-item Maslach Burnout Inventory subscale, psychological inflexibility using the AAQ-II, and work–private-life interference using three study-specific binary items. Ordinary least squares regression with HC3 heteroscedasticity-consistent standard errors was evaluated using Python (statsmodels). Results: Of 290 participants with valid PSQI scores, 144 (49.7%) had scores above five. In the main model (R2 = 0.432), poorer sleep quality (B = 0.915, 95% CI 0.599–1.231), higher AAQ-II scores (B = 0.196, 95% CI 0.054–0.338), and greater work–private-life interference (B = 3.386, 95% CI 2.454–4.317) were associated with higher emotional exhaustion. Associations persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and shift work. In an exploratory model additionally accounting for concurrent depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, the AAQ-II association was no longer statistically significant (B = 0.058, p = 0.400). Conclusions: Sleep quality and study-specific work–private-life interference were consistently associated with emotional exhaustion. The cross-sectional design, non-probability sampling, and exploratory analyses preclude causal or population-level inferences.