Abstract: Objective: To explore the mediating effect of different coping styles on social support and burnout in ICU nurses. Methods: The Social Support Rate Scale, Simplified Coping Skill Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to conduct a questionnaire survey in 1012 ICU nurses from 10 tertiary grade A general hospitals in Hunan province. Results: Burnout occurred in 63.4% of ICU nurses. Coping style partially mediated the relationship between social support and burnout, accounting for 32.1% of the total effect, among which the mediating effect of positive coping and negative coping was 26.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Conclusion: ICU nurses are with a high rate of burnout. Social support not only directly affects burnout, but also indirectly affects burnout through coping styles. Coping style plays a mediating role in social support and burnout of ICU nurses.

Key words: ICU nurse; burnout; social support; coping skill