Key Determinants of Workplace Well-being Among Medical Professionals in Shanghai

Background: Workplace well-being is critical for healthcare workers facing elevated stress in high-demand systems. Shanghai’s medical professionals operate within a tiered hospital framework that concentrates resources—and associated pressures—in tertiary institutions, creating unique well-being challenges requiring investigation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 5,000 Shanghai medical professionals (June-August 2023) employed multiple regression to identify well-being determinants, controlling for position, tenure, and institutional factors. Findings: Tertiary hospital access increased well-being (B=2.08, *p*<0.001). But higher-level hospitals intensified workloads that reduced well-being (B=-1.92, *p*<0.001). Tenure ≥5 years decreased well-being (B=-2.40, *p*<0.001). Stressors (excessive workload, limited development) showed strong negative effects (B=-3.11 to -1.85, all *p*<0.001). Additionally, administrative and logistics personnel reported higher job satisfaction compared to nurses and significantly higher than doctors. Conclusion: Resource advantages in advanced hospitals are counterbalanced by heightened demands, while tenure and role-specific stressors critically undermine well-being. Targeted interventions should mitigate workload burdens in tertiary settings and address stability for clinical staff.
Ari, H. O. (2025). Determining the Relationship Between Work Stress and Job Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Healthcare Workers. J Nurs Manag, 2025, 5051149. doi:10.1155/jonm/5051149
AS. Waterman. (1999). Two conceptions of happiness: contrasts of personal expressiveness (eudaimonia) and hedonic enjoyment. J Personal Soc Psychol, 64(4), 678-691.
Beauchamp, E., Abdella, J., Fisher, S., McPeak, J., Patnaik, H., Koulibaly, P., Gueye, B. (2019). Resilience from the ground up: how are local resilience perceptions and global frameworks aligned? Disasters, 43 Suppl 3(Suppl 3), S295-s317. doi:10.1111/disa.12342
Darvishmotevali, M., & Ali, F.,. (2020). Job insecurity, subjective well-being and job performance: The moderating role of psychological capital. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 87(102462).
Diener E, S. E., Lucas RE, Smith HL. . (1999). Subjective well-being: three decades of progress. Psychol Bull, 125(2), 276–302.
Fish, J. A., Sharplin, G., Wang, L., An, Y., Fan, X., & Eckert, M. (2022). Cross-cultural differences in nurse burnout and the relationship with patient safety: An East-West comparative study. J Adv Nurs, 78(4), 1001-1011. doi:10.1111/jan.15024
Gusmano, M. K., Rodwin, V. G., Wang, C., Weisz, D., Luo, L., & Hua, F. (2015). Shanghai rising: health improvements as measured by avoidable mortality since 2000. Int J Health Policy Manag, 4(1), 7-12. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.07
Hapsari, F. R. P., Murti, B., & Tamtomo, D. (2023). Meta Analysis of Factors Associated with Job Satisfaction in Health Workers. Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(3), 214–223.
Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources. A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. Am Psychol, 44(3), 513-524. doi:10.1037//0003-066x.44.3.513
Jiang, K., Tian, L., Yan, C., Li, Y., Fang, H., Peihang, S., Liu, M. (2019). A cross-sectional survey on patient safety culture in secondary hospitals of Northeast China. PLoS One, 14(3), e0213055. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0213055
NMNCE, B. (1969). The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co.
Oquendo M.A., B. C. A., Mayer L.E.S. (2019). A key differential diagnosisi for physicians—major depression or burnout? Jama, 76(11).
Rotenstein, L. S., Ramos, M. A., Torre, M., Segal, J. B., Peluso, M. J., Guille, C., Mata, D. A. (2016). Prevalence of Depression, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Jama, 316(21), 2214-2236. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.17324
Salvagioni, D. A. J., Melanda, F. N., Mesas, A. E., González, A. D., Gabani, F. L., & Andrade, S. M. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies. PLoS One, 12(10), e0185781. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0185781
Salyers, M. P., Bonfils, K. A., Luther, L., Firmin, R. L., White, D. A., Adams, E. L., & Rollins, A. L. (2017). The Relationship Between Professional Burnout and Quality and Safety in Healthcare: A Meta-Analysis. J Gen Intern Med, 32(4), 475-482. doi:10.1007/s11606-016-3886-9
Sen, S., Kranzler, H. R., Krystal, J. H., Speller, H., Chan, G., Gelernter, J., & Guille, C. (2010). A prospective cohort study investigating factors associated with depression during medical internship. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67(6), 557-565. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.41
Shanafelt, T. D., Balch, C. M., Bechamps, G., Russell, T., Dyrbye, L., Satele, D., Freischlag, J. (2010). Burnout and medical errors among American surgeons. Ann Surg, 251(6), 995-1000. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181bfdab3
Shanafelt, T. D., & Noseworthy, J. H. (2017). Executive Leadership and Physician Well-being: Nine Organizational Strategies to Promote Engagement and Reduce Burnout. Mayo Clin Proc, 92(1), 129-146. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.10.004
Tang, S., Meng, Q., Chen, L., Bekedam, H., Evans, T., & Whitehead, M. (2008). Tackling the challenges to health equity in China. Lancet, 372(9648), 1493-1501. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(08)61364-1
Voßemer, J., Gebel, M., Täht, K., Unt, M., Högberg, B., & Strandh, M.,. (2018). The effects of unemployment and insecure jobs on well-being and health: The moderating role of labor market policies. Social Indicators Research, 138, 1229-1257.
Wallace, J. E., Lemaire, J. B., & Ghali, W. A. (2009). Physician wellness: a missing quality indicator. Lancet, 374(9702), 1714-1721. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(09)61424-0
Yang, C. C., Chen, H. T., Luo, K. H., Watanabe, K., Chuang, H. Y., Wu, C. W., Kawakami, N. (2024). The validation of Chinese version of workplace PERMA-profiler and the association between workplace well-being and fatigue. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 720. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18194-6
Yang, H., Lv, J., Zhou, X., Liu, H., & Mi, B. (2017). Validation of work pressure and associated factors influencing hospital nurse turnover: a cross-sectional investigation in Shaanxi Province, China. BMC Health Serv Res, 17(1), 112. doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2056-z
Zhou, H., Han, X., Zhang, J., Sun, J., Hu, L., Hu, G., Liu, Y. (2018). Job Satisfaction and Associated Factors among Medical Staff in Tertiary Public Hospitals: Results from a National Cross-Sectional Survey in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 15(7). doi:10.3390/ijerph15071528