Exploring the relationship between burnout and mental health among village doctors: a study from Xun County, Henan Province

Objective Village doctors serve as the primary gatekeepers of healthcare in rural China. They often face heavy workloads, which may place them at increased risk of burnout and psychological distress. However, evidence regarding the association between different dimensions of burnout and mental health among this group remains limited. This study aimed to: (1) estimate the prevalence of burnout and probable mental health problems among village doctors in Xun County; and (2) examine the factors influencing village doctors’ mental health and its associations with different dimensions of burnout. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 769 village doctors in Xun County, Henan Province, China. Sociodemographic and job-related characteristics were collected. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, and mental health conditions was measured with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Chi-square tests, ANCOVA, and binary logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with mental health among village doctors. Result Of the participants, 460 (59.8%) met criteria for burnout and 179 (23.3%) had mental health conditions. Significant differences between village doctors with and without mental health conditions were observed in family relationship, annual family income, annual income from public health services, physical exercise, and regular diet. ANCOVA revealed that after controlling for sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, there were significant group differences in emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP), but not in lack of personal accomplishment. Logistic regression indicated that poor family relationships (OR = 1.73, p = 0.043), EE (OR = 1.10, p < 0.001), and DP (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001) were positively associated with poor mental health, whereas having a higher annual family income (30,000–50,000 yuan vs.