The mediating role of intercultural sensitivity in the relationship between cultural intelligence and burnout among nurses caring for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of intercultural sensitivity in the relationship between cultural intelligence and burnout among nurses who provide care to patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. The population of the study consisted of 802 nurses working at Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital between January and June 2025, while the sample included 487 nurses who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Cultural Intelligence Scale, the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression-based mediation analysis were used to evaluate the data. The mean scores of the Cultural Intelligence Scale and the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale were 69.56±13.47 and 87.13±12.34, respectively. The subscale mean scores of the Maslach Burnout Inventory were 17.49±9.47 for emotional exhaustion, 5.92±4.39 for depersonalization, and 20.92±6.40 for personal accomplishment. A positive and significant relationship was found between cultural intelligence and intercultural sensitivity. Additionally, both cultural intelligence and intercultural sensitivity were negatively associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and positively associated with personal accomplishment. The mediation analysis revealed that intercultural sensitivity had a partial mediating effect on the relationships between cultural intelligence and both emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whereas no significant mediating effect was detected in the relationship between cultural intelligence and personal accomplishment. These findings indicate that cultural intelligence is an important determinant of burnout among nurses working in multicultural settings and that intercultural sensitivity functions as a protective mediating variable, particularly against emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Therefore, educational and interventional programs aimed at enhancing intercultural sensitivity may serve as an effective strategy to reduce burnout risk among nurses in multicultural healthcare environments. Keywords: Cultural Intelligence, Intercultural Sensitivity, Burnout, Nursing, Mediation Analysis.