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    Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change


    Bondjers, Kristina, Hyland, Philip, Atar, Dan, Christensen, Jan Olav, Nilsen, Kristian Bernhard, Reitan, Solveig Klaebo, Rosseland, Leiv Arne, Wentzel-Larsen, Tore, Wøien, Hilde, Zwart, John Anker, Dyb, Grete and Stensland, Synne (2025) Burnout trajectories among healthcare workers during a pandemic, and predictors of change. BMC Health Services Research, 25 (1). ISSN 1472-6963

    Abstract

    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.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Latent growth curve model; Burnout; Covid-19 pandemic; Healthcare workers;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
    Item ID: 21399
    Identification Number: 10.1186/s12913-025-12802-w
    Depositing User: Philip Hyland
    Date Deposited: 09 Apr 2026 11:25
    Journal or Publication Title: BMC Health Services Research
    Publisher: BioMed Central
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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