Presentation Information
[P-16-02]Workplace Attachment Style, Burnout Levels, and Sleep Quality in Nurses of Hong Kong
*Sze Man Chan1, Mark Lawrence WONG2 (1.Registered Nurse, Master’s Student, City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), 2.Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong))
Keywords:
Workplace attachment style,nurses,burnout,Hong Kong,sleep quality
Background Burnout and depression are highly prevalent among nurses in Hong Kong due to a highly stressful working environment. The demands of teamwork and shift duty often result in increased mental stress and poor sleep quality. Workplace attachment theory—a novel concept—explores the emotional bond between individuals and their work environment. Secure workplace attachment has been associated with lower emotional exhaustion, greater perceived comfort, and reduced stress. In contrast, insecure attachment styles, such as preoccupied and avoidant, are linked to higher stress and poorer outcomes. However, these relationships have not yet been examined in the local context of Hong Kong, where the healthcare environment is particularly demanding, with nurse-to-patient ratios reaching up to 1:13. Investigating these associations is essential to inform targeted interventions that promote psychological well-being and resilience among nurses.
Aim This study aimed to examine the relationship between workplace attachment styles and psychological outcomes including burnout and sleep quality. It was hypothesized that secure workplace attachment would be negatively associated with burnout, while insecure attachment would show a positive association. Furthermore, sleep quality was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between attachment style and burnout.
Method This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of Hong Kong nurses (N = 189) through an online survey conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. The survey collected demographic data and utilized the following instruments: the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), Workplace Attachment Style Questionnaire (WASQ), Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS-MP), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using Spearman correlations and mediation analysis via SPSS and PROCESS macro.
Results Secure workplace attachment was significantly negatively associated with depression, anxiety, stress, poor sleep quality, and burnout. Mediation analysis revealed that the protective effect of secure workplace attachment on burnout was partially mediated by better sleep quality. The findings support a partial mediation model in which secure attachment is associated with lower levels of burnout both directly and indirectly through improved sleep quality.
Conclusion This study suggests that workplace attachment style may play a protective role in preventing or reducing burnout among nurses. A longitudinal study or randomized controlled trial is recommended to further examine the causal relationships underlying these associations and to support the development of effective strategies for mitigating burnout among nurses in Hong Kong.
Aim This study aimed to examine the relationship between workplace attachment styles and psychological outcomes including burnout and sleep quality. It was hypothesized that secure workplace attachment would be negatively associated with burnout, while insecure attachment would show a positive association. Furthermore, sleep quality was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between attachment style and burnout.
Method This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of Hong Kong nurses (N = 189) through an online survey conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. The survey collected demographic data and utilized the following instruments: the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), Workplace Attachment Style Questionnaire (WASQ), Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS-MP), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using Spearman correlations and mediation analysis via SPSS and PROCESS macro.
Results Secure workplace attachment was significantly negatively associated with depression, anxiety, stress, poor sleep quality, and burnout. Mediation analysis revealed that the protective effect of secure workplace attachment on burnout was partially mediated by better sleep quality. The findings support a partial mediation model in which secure attachment is associated with lower levels of burnout both directly and indirectly through improved sleep quality.
Conclusion This study suggests that workplace attachment style may play a protective role in preventing or reducing burnout among nurses. A longitudinal study or randomized controlled trial is recommended to further examine the causal relationships underlying these associations and to support the development of effective strategies for mitigating burnout among nurses in Hong Kong.