Burnout and Social Support Among Medical Frontliners During COVID-19

Burnout has emerged as a critical occupational health concern among medical frontliners, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to prolonged exposure to high work demands, health risks, and psychological strain. However, few studies have examined how social support may mitigate burnout in rural health units, particularly in Ilocos Sur. It further examined differences in burnout symptoms across demographic variables and explored the relationship between burnout symptoms and perceived social support. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed using total enumeration sampling. The participants consisted of 66 medical frontliners from the Rural Health Units of Sta. Cruz and Tagudin. Data were gathered through standardized self-report questionnaires. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean) were used to determine the levels of burnout and perceived social support. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested differences across demographic profiles, while Pearson product–moment correlation (r) assessed the relationship between the variables. Results indicated no statistically significant differences in experienced burnout symptoms when grouped according to profile variables, except for age, which showed significant differences in the domains of exhaustion and psychological complaints. Importantly, a statistically significant negative relationship was found between burnout and perceived social support, indicating that higher levels of social support are associated with lower levels of burnout among medical frontliners. These findings highlight the protective role of social support in mitigating burnout among medical frontliners. Strengthening institutional support systems and fostering collaborative partnerships between Local Government Units and mental health professionals are recommended to develop sustainable psychosocial intervention programs aimed at enhancing frontline workers’ well-being.