COVID-19 Infection Experience and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Medical Staff: The Mediating Role of Professional Burnout

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to assess the relationship between COVID-19 infection-related conditions and depressive symptoms among medical staff after easing the zero-COVID policy in China, and to further examine the mediating role of professional burnout. Methods A total of 1716 medical staff from all levels of health care institutions in 16 administrative districts of Beijing, China, were recruited to participate at the end of 2022 in this cross-sectional study. Several multiple linear regressions and mediating effects tests were performed to analyze the data. Results At the beginning of the end of the zero-COVID policy in China, 91.84% of respondents reported infection with COVID-19. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the severity of infection symptoms was significantly positively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms (β = 0.06, P < 0.001), and this association was partially mediated by professional burnout. Specifically, emotional exhaustion (95% CI, 0.131, 0.251) and depersonalization (95% CI, 0.009, 0.043) significantly mediated the association between the severity of infection symptoms and depressive symptoms. Conclusions The mental health of medical staff with more severe symptoms of COVID-19 infection should be closely monitored. Also, interventions aimed at reducing emotional exhaustion and depersonalization may effectively reduce their risk of developing depressive symptoms.