Objective:

To explore the relationships between research stress, research anxiety, research performance, and job satisfaction among Chinese healthcare professionals.

Approach:

• Survey Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals (nurses, physicians, and pharmacists) across China to assess research-related conditions and job satisfaction.
• Measurement Tools: Job satisfaction was measured using a modified validated scale, while research stress, research anxiety, and research performance were assessed using self-developed instruments.
• Data Analysis: Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for path analysis and mediation analysis.

Key Findings:

• Over 85% of participants worked more than 40 hours per week, with 66.5% rating their health status as fair or poor.
• Clinical research was the most common type of research conducted (63.2%).
• Research stress was positively associated with research anxiety and negatively associated with both research performance and job satisfaction.
• Research anxiety negatively impacted research performance and job satisfaction.
• Higher research performance was positively associated with job satisfaction.
• The mean scores of job satisfaction, research stress, research anxiety, and research performance were 3.40 ± 0.88, 2.56 ± 0.70, 2.34 ± 0.87, and 3.55 ± 0.82, respectively.

Interpretation:

Research stress negatively affects job satisfaction through increased research anxiety, while higher research performance correlates positively with job satisfaction.

Limitations:

• The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences.
• Self-reported measures may introduce bias.

Conclusion:

Optimizing the research environment and providing psychological support may help reduce research stress and improve job satisfaction among healthcare professionals.