Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background In this study, we explored changes to female medical staff’s health status under the influence of care guilt in the process of balancing work and family care responsibilities. The mediating role of time pressure within this nexus was examined, and an ideal concept derived from th...

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Main Authors: Jia Xu, Chun Xia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:International Journal for Equity in Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02369-z
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author Jia Xu
Chun Xia
author_facet Jia Xu
Chun Xia
author_sort Jia Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In this study, we explored changes to female medical staff’s health status under the influence of care guilt in the process of balancing work and family care responsibilities. The mediating role of time pressure within this nexus was examined, and an ideal concept derived from the Confucian cultural context, “Zhong-yong,” was investigated as a moderator of the impact of care guilt on health status. Method A questionnaire survey of 407 full-time female medical staff with family care needs, recruited using convenience sampling from eight hospitals in China, was conducted. The survey tools comprised the Relationship Guilt Scale, Dapkus’ time pressure scale, Zhong-yong scale, and Self-rated health status scale. A moderated mediation model was established to test the hypotheses. Results Care guilt had a significant negative impact on health condition after controlling for variables such as age, educational level, and professional position. Time pressure mediated the association between care guilt and health status. Zhong-yong levels moderated the effects of care guilt on time pressure and had a direct effect on health condition. Care guilt weakened health condition, partly through the experience of time pressure. However, low levels of Zhong-yong predicted a greater negative impact of care guilt on health condition. Conclusion Female medical staff require a comprehensive approach to balancing their work and family responsibilities to mitigate their experience of guilt and poor health.
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spelling doaj-art-95becee753294359bf2b22122e8531d62025-01-26T12:20:46ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762025-01-0124111110.1186/s12939-024-02369-zImpact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional studyJia Xu0Chun Xia1School of Marxism, Anhui Normal UniversitySchool of Educational Science, Anhui Normal UniversityAbstract Background In this study, we explored changes to female medical staff’s health status under the influence of care guilt in the process of balancing work and family care responsibilities. The mediating role of time pressure within this nexus was examined, and an ideal concept derived from the Confucian cultural context, “Zhong-yong,” was investigated as a moderator of the impact of care guilt on health status. Method A questionnaire survey of 407 full-time female medical staff with family care needs, recruited using convenience sampling from eight hospitals in China, was conducted. The survey tools comprised the Relationship Guilt Scale, Dapkus’ time pressure scale, Zhong-yong scale, and Self-rated health status scale. A moderated mediation model was established to test the hypotheses. Results Care guilt had a significant negative impact on health condition after controlling for variables such as age, educational level, and professional position. Time pressure mediated the association between care guilt and health status. Zhong-yong levels moderated the effects of care guilt on time pressure and had a direct effect on health condition. Care guilt weakened health condition, partly through the experience of time pressure. However, low levels of Zhong-yong predicted a greater negative impact of care guilt on health condition. Conclusion Female medical staff require a comprehensive approach to balancing their work and family responsibilities to mitigate their experience of guilt and poor health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02369-zCare guiltTime pressureSelf-rated healthZhong-YongFemale medical staff
spellingShingle Jia Xu
Chun Xia
Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study
International Journal for Equity in Health
Care guilt
Time pressure
Self-rated health
Zhong-Yong
Female medical staff
title Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study
title_full Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study
title_short Impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff: a cross-sectional study
title_sort impact of care guilt on the health status of female medical staff a cross sectional study
topic Care guilt
Time pressure
Self-rated health
Zhong-Yong
Female medical staff
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02369-z
work_keys_str_mv AT jiaxu impactofcareguiltonthehealthstatusoffemalemedicalstaffacrosssectionalstudy
AT chunxia impactofcareguiltonthehealthstatusoffemalemedicalstaffacrosssectionalstudy