DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70363 ISSN: 1368-2822

The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Burnout Among Female Speech Therapists in Chinese Mainland

Chenrui Zhang, Yongli Wang, Tianhao Ni, Ke Zhao, Qin Wan, Zhaoming Huang
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ABSTRACT

Purpose

Speech therapists (STs) in Chinese mainland face a severe shortage of professional resources and multiple systemic challenges, including low remuneration, limited career advancement opportunities, and occupational isolation, all of which may increase their risk of burnout. Given the very small number of valid male respondents in the present survey and the female‐dominated composition of the speech therapy profession, this study focused on female speech therapists in Chinese mainland. It examined the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between self‐reported mindfulness and burnout, with the aim of providing empirical evidence relevant to occupational well‐being in this practitioner group.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design was adopted, and 391 female speech therapists were included in the final analytic sample. Participants completed the Five‐Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory‐General Survey (MBI‐GS). Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM), and bootstrapping was used to test the mediating effect.

Results

Mindfulness showed a significant negative direct path to burnout ( β = −0.152, p < 0.001) and a significant positive path to perceived social support ( β = 0.290, p < 0.001). In turn, perceived social support was significantly associated with lower burnout ( β = −0.344, p < 0.001). Bootstrapping confirmed that perceived social support significantly mediated the relationship between mindfulness and burnout ( β = −0.100, p < 0.001), accounting for 39.7% of the total effect. Further analyses of the subdimensions revealed that the mediating effects of family support, friend support, and support from significant others were all significant and comparable in magnitude.

Conclusion

In this cross‐sectional sample of female speech therapists in Chinese mainland, higher self‐reported mindfulness was associated with lower burnout both directly and indirectly through higher perceived social support. These findings suggest that perceived social support may be an important pathway linking self‐reported mindfulness with occupational well‐being. For this under‐resourced and emotionally demanding profession, strengthening multidimensional social support may be relevant to burnout prevention and workforce resilience.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on this subject

Burnout is a work‐related syndrome associated with chronic occupational stress and is common in healthcare and education. Speech therapists often work with complex communication, swallowing and voice difficulties, and may face high emotional demands, limited occupational resources and professional isolation. Previous studies suggest that mindfulness and perceived social support are negatively associated with burnout, and that social support may buffer work‐related stress. However, little is known about how these factors relate to burnout among speech therapists in Chinese mainland.

What this study adds to existing knowledge

This cross‐sectional study of 391 female speech therapists in Chinese mainland found that higher self‐reported mindfulness and perceived social support were linked to lower burnout. Perceived social support significantly mediated the mindfulness–burnout relationship, accounting for 39.7% of the total effect. Family support, friend support and support from significant others all showed significant and comparable mediating effects. The findings suggest that burnout in this workforce should be understood in relation to both self‐reported mindfulness and multidimensional social and relational resources.
What are the potential or actual clinical implications for practice?

For speech therapists, approaches to burnout may need to consider both self‐reported mindfulness and the social environment around practitioners. Professional development may include self‐awareness and emotional‐regulation components, while services and professional organisations may consider strengthening peer discussion, supervision and mentoring to address professional isolation. Attention should also be given to family, friend and significant‐other support, as these sources may provide complementary emotional and practical resources. Support‐oriented strategies should be evaluated in future longitudinal and intervention studies before being treated as causal burnout‐reduction approaches.

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