To investigate the pathways linking internship experience to psychological symptoms among Chinese healthcare trainees, focusing on the mediating role of burnout.
Approach:
Study Design: A single-center cross-sectional survey was conducted among 241 Chinese healthcare trainees at a teaching hospital.
Data Collection: Data were collected using a self-developed Internship Experience Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey (MBI-SS), and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90).
Analysis Method: Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine hypothesized relationships, with mediation effects tested using bootstrap procedures.
Key Findings:
Internship experience was negatively associated with burnout.
Burnout showed positive associations with anxiety and depression.
Anxiety and depression were highly correlated.
Burnout was confirmed as a significant intermediary linking internship experience and psychological symptoms.
Interpretation:
Limitations:
The study was conducted at a single center, which may limit generalizability.
Convenience sampling may introduce selection bias.
