Empirical Study of the Moderating Role of Social Support in the Relationship Between Occupational Stress and Burnout Among Nurses in Tertiary Hospitals in Kano State

Occupational stress in nursing is a well-documented predictor of burnout, but the moderating role of social support in buffering this relationship within the specific working conditions of northern Nigerian tertiary hospitals requires empirical examination. This study investigated the moderating role of social support in the occupational stress-burnout relationship among nurses at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional correlational survey was conducted among 280 registered nurses using stratified sampling across six wards. The Nursing Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were administered. Hierarchical multiple regression with interaction terms was used to test the moderation hypothesis. Results showed that occupational stress significantly predicted emotional exhaustion (beta = 0.52, p < 0.001) and depersonalisation (beta = 0.45, p < 0.001). Social support was a significant negative predictor of both burnout dimensions. The interaction term (stress x social support) was significant for emotional exhaustion (beta = -0.21, p < 0.01), confirming significant moderation, with high social support buffering the stress-exhaustion relationship. Supervisor support showed the strongest buffering effect, followed by colleague support. Family support showed significant protection against depersonalisation specifically. The study fills an important empirical gap and recommends strengthening formal and informal social support systems in the nursing workplace as a burnout prevention strategy in Kano State tertiary hospitals. Keywords: occupational stress, burnout, nurses, social support, moderation analysis