Enhancing job satisfaction and reducing burnout among healthcare workers: the mediating role of psychological capital before and after a targeted training intervention

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Psychological Capital (PsyCap) training program in enhancing job satisfaction and reducing burnout among healthcare professionals. A pretest–posttest design was employed to evaluate changes in participants before and after the intervention. The study involving 732 healthcare workers at Time 1 (T1) and 653 at Time 2 (T2) across several public hospitals in Italy. Participants completed a 4-months structured training program targeting the core components of PsyCap: hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. Standardized self-report measures were used to assess psychological capital, job satisfaction, and burnout levels. The PsyCap training program led to a statistically significant increase in participants’ PsyCap scores, a reduction in burnout symptoms, and an improvement in overall job satisfaction. Mediation analyses revealed that PsyCap significantly mediated the relationship between the training intervention and the outcomes of burnout and job satisfaction. Multigroup analyses supported the effectiveness of the intervention, confirming significant differences between pre- and post-training conditions. Psychological Capital is a measurable and developable resource that plays a crucial role in promoting employee well-being and organizational health. Implementing PsyCap development programs may offer healthcare organizations a sustainable and evidence-based strategy to tackle burnout and enhance job satisfaction among frontline staff.