Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal

Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal

The Role of Transformational Leadership in Reducing Job Burnout among the Staff at Abuzar Hospital in Ahvaz during COVID-19

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor of Management Department, Economics and Social Sciences Faculty , Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 MSc student of Management at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
Abstract
Background and Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems. The combination of excessive workloads, equipment shortages, and constant changes in treatment protocols placed significant psychological pressure on healthcare professionals and markedly increased the risk of job burnout. Under such circumstances, leadership style can serve as a key factor in providing psychological and organizational support for employees and mitigating the adverse effects of stress. This study aimed to investigate the role of transformational leadership in reducing job burnout among the staff at Abuzar Hospital in Ahvaz during the COVID-19 crisis.
Subjects and Methods The research was applied in purpose and followed a descriptive–survey design. The study's statistical population was 227 hospital staff. A sample of 153 individuals was then selected using stratified random sampling, based on Cochran’s formula. Data were collected using the standard Transformational Leadership Questionnaire developed by Bass and Avolio (2000) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (1981). Data analysis was performed through structural equation modeling with the partial least squares (PLS) approach.
Results The results indicated that transformational leadership had a significant negative effect on job burnout (β = −0.601, t = 11.533, p < 0.001), explaining 36.1% of the variance in burnout. Among the dimensions of transformational leadership, “intellectual stimulation” had the highest mean score (3.54), while “emotional exhaustion” had the lowest mean among the dimensions of burnout (2.39).
Conclusion These findings suggest that strengthening transformational leadership can substantially reduce job burnout, enhance service quality, sustain individual motivation, and promote organizational resilience during crisis conditions.
Keywords
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 22 July 2025
  • Revise Date 21 September 2025
  • Accept Date 23 September 2025