Public service motivation as a mediator of the relationship between job stress and presenteeism: a cross-sectional study from Chinese public hospitals

BACKGROUND: Job stress is a strong indicator of presenteeism, but few studies have examined its diverse effects and mediators on presenteeism. This study explored the relationships between job stress, public service motivation (PSM) and presenteeism and how job stress and PSM influence presenteeism in a large national sample of Chinese healthcare workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey including 1392 healthcare workers from 11 Class A tertiary hospitals in eastern, central and western China was used in the analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test the research hypothesis. RESULTS: Hindrance stress was inversely associated with PSM (β = − 0.27; P < 0.001) but significantly positively associated with presenteeism (β = 0.35; P < 0.001). PSM was directly inversely associated with presenteeism (β = − 0.35; P < 0.001). PSM partially mediated the relation of hindrance stress with presenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that efforts to prevent presenteeism among healthcare workers in China should emphasize PSM improvement and reduction of hindrance stress.