Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change
Abstract Background While several cross-sectional studies have suggested high burnout levels among health-care workers (HCW) during the Covid-19 pandemic, fewer studies have examined longitudinal trajectories of burnout. Objectives To examine (1) trajectories of change in levels of burnout among Nor...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12802-w |
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| author | Kristina Bondjers Philip Hyland Dan Atar Jan Olav Christensen Kristian Bernhard Nilsen Solveig Klaebo Reitan Leiv Arne Rosseland Tore Wentzel-Larsen Hilde Wøien John Anker Zwart Grete Dyb Synne Stensland |
| author_facet | Kristina Bondjers Philip Hyland Dan Atar Jan Olav Christensen Kristian Bernhard Nilsen Solveig Klaebo Reitan Leiv Arne Rosseland Tore Wentzel-Larsen Hilde Wøien John Anker Zwart Grete Dyb Synne Stensland |
| author_sort | Kristina Bondjers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While several cross-sectional studies have suggested high burnout levels among health-care workers (HCW) during the Covid-19 pandemic, fewer studies have examined longitudinal trajectories of burnout. Objectives To examine (1) trajectories of change in levels of burnout among Norwegian HCW during a one-year period in the mid-phase of the Covid-19 pandemic (second, third, and fourth incidence rate peaks), and (2) how demographic and occupational variables, and pandemic-related experiences (e.g., own infection, severe infection in family, friend, or colleague, caring for deceased patient with Covid-19) were associated with such change. Methods Burnout was measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Latent growth curve modeling was used to estimate trajectories of burnout symptoms, and predictors of starting point and rate of change in burnout levels. Results Starting points of burnout scores were, on average, low-to-moderate. Women, younger HCW, those living alone, and nurses had higher initial scores. Overall, burnout scores remained mostly unchanged across the study period. However, lower burnout scores at the initial assessment were associated with increasing scores over time. Being exposed to patients with Covid-19 and having a Covid-19 infection were associated with increased burnout over time. Conclusions While burnout symptoms among frontline health workers remained stable across the peaks of the Covid-19 pandemic overall, the study identified higher risk of worsening symptoms over time among certain demographic (younger personnel, females, and nurses) and highly exposed individuals and groups. These findings may be helpful for identifying frontline workers at particular risk of burnout during future public health emergencies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e80a9d8e2bd3428c8574d5d491ba9393 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-e80a9d8e2bd3428c8574d5d491ba93932025-08-20T01:59:57ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-05-012511810.1186/s12913-025-12802-wBurnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of changeKristina Bondjers0Philip Hyland1Dan Atar2Jan Olav Christensen3Kristian Bernhard Nilsen4Solveig Klaebo Reitan5Leiv Arne Rosseland6Tore Wentzel-Larsen7Hilde Wøien8John Anker Zwart9Grete Dyb10Synne Stensland11Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress StudiesDepartment of Psychology, Maynooth UniversityInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of OsloGroup for Work Psychology and Physiology, National Institute of Occupational HealthSection for Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Oslo University HospitalDepartment of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNUInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of OsloNorwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress StudiesDivision of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University HospitalInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of OsloNorwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress StudiesNorwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress StudiesAbstract Background While several cross-sectional studies have suggested high burnout levels among health-care workers (HCW) during the Covid-19 pandemic, fewer studies have examined longitudinal trajectories of burnout. Objectives To examine (1) trajectories of change in levels of burnout among Norwegian HCW during a one-year period in the mid-phase of the Covid-19 pandemic (second, third, and fourth incidence rate peaks), and (2) how demographic and occupational variables, and pandemic-related experiences (e.g., own infection, severe infection in family, friend, or colleague, caring for deceased patient with Covid-19) were associated with such change. Methods Burnout was measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Latent growth curve modeling was used to estimate trajectories of burnout symptoms, and predictors of starting point and rate of change in burnout levels. Results Starting points of burnout scores were, on average, low-to-moderate. Women, younger HCW, those living alone, and nurses had higher initial scores. Overall, burnout scores remained mostly unchanged across the study period. However, lower burnout scores at the initial assessment were associated with increasing scores over time. Being exposed to patients with Covid-19 and having a Covid-19 infection were associated with increased burnout over time. Conclusions While burnout symptoms among frontline health workers remained stable across the peaks of the Covid-19 pandemic overall, the study identified higher risk of worsening symptoms over time among certain demographic (younger personnel, females, and nurses) and highly exposed individuals and groups. These findings may be helpful for identifying frontline workers at particular risk of burnout during future public health emergencies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12802-wLatent growth curve modelBurnoutCovid-19 pandemicHealthcare workers |
| spellingShingle | Kristina Bondjers Philip Hyland Dan Atar Jan Olav Christensen Kristian Bernhard Nilsen Solveig Klaebo Reitan Leiv Arne Rosseland Tore Wentzel-Larsen Hilde Wøien John Anker Zwart Grete Dyb Synne Stensland Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change BMC Health Services Research Latent growth curve model Burnout Covid-19 pandemic Healthcare workers |
| title | Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change |
| title_full | Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change |
| title_fullStr | Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change |
| title_short | Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change |
| title_sort | burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic and predictors of change |
| topic | Latent growth curve model Burnout Covid-19 pandemic Healthcare workers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12802-w |
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