Abstract
Background: This study aimed to explore the relationships between work stress, professional identity, and job burnout in elderly care workers and to assess whether work stress and professional identity interact to influence job burnout. Methods: A survey of 439 elderly care workers was conducted from July to September 2021. T-tests and ANOVA were used to identify the main different characteristics involved in work stress and professional identity, and four multiple regression models were used to identify the determinants of job burnout. Results: Work stress and professional identity were moderate among respondents. Work stress positively correlated with job burnout, while professional identity showed a negative correlation. An interactive effect was found between the sub-dimension of work stress concerning the consistency between rewards and responsibilities and professional identity on job burnout. Conclusions: Managers in pension institutions should focus on addressing work stress and professional identity, especially balancing alignment between rewards and responsibilities.