Chain Mediation of Psychological Capital and Burnout Between Nurses' Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Occupational Resilience: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

AI literacy is increasingly recognized as a core competency that enables nurses to improve work efficiency and reduce workload. Therefore, enhancing AI literacy represents a promising strategy to strengthen occupational resilience. However, current research has not yet elucidated the direct relationship and underlying mechanisms between nurses' AI literacy and occupational resilience.

AIM: To investigate the impact of nurses' artificial intelligence literacy on their occupational resilience and examine the chain mediating effects of psychological capital and burnout.

METHODS

Data were collected from December 2025 to January 2026 using self-report electronic questionnaires completed by nurses in 10 medical institutions across China. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and chain mediation analysis were performed on all study variables.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis showed that nurses' artificial intelligence literacy was significantly positively correlated with occupational resilience (r = 0.351, p < 0.001) and psychological capital (r = 0.356, p < 0.001) and significantly negatively correlated with burnout (r = -0.130, p < 0.05). Bootstrap analysis revealed that psychological capital served as the primary mediating pathway (effect = 0.377, 95% CI = [0.283, 0.475]), and a sequential chain mediation via psychological capital and burnout also existed between artificial intelligence literacy and occupational resilience (effect = 0.036, 95% CI = [0.019, 0.057]).

CONCLUSION

Artificial intelligence literacy enhances occupational resilience through the chain mediation effects of psychological capital and burnout. Occupational resilience among nurses can be strengthened by implementing artificial intelligence skills training and psychological capital interventions for nursing staff.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing managers should implement hierarchical artificial intelligence training, regularly assess nurses' psychological capital and burnout and offer targeted interventions. Meanwhile, healthcare institutions should upgrade digital infrastructure, adopt artificial intelligence-enabled nursing technologies, and establish guidelines for intelligent nursing applications to systematically enhance nurses' occupational resilience.