Downloads: 3 | Views: 145 | Weekly Hits: ⮙2 | Monthly Hits: ⮙2

Research Paper | Health and Medical Sciences | Romania | Volume 12 Issue 8, August 2023

Exploring Psychological Factors Linking Burnout and Depression among COVID-19 Healthcare Workers Two Years Post-Pandemic

Monica Muntean | Doina Colcear | Violeta Briciu | Mihaela Lupse | Amanda Radulescu

Abstract: The objective was to study which psychological factors were more associated with burnout and depression in COVID-19 healthcare workers two years after pandemic onset. Between May 4 and June 17, 2022, 114 employees at a Romanian frontline Infectious Diseases Hospital, completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and the Karasek Job Questionnaire (KJQ). Descriptive statistics, and multiple regression analysis were done. Moderate to severe depression was found in 30.6% of respondents, medium to high total Maslach burnout in 56.1%, medium to severe personal burnout (CBI-PB) in 45.6%, medium to high work-related burnout (CBI-WRB) and client-related burnout (CBI-CRB) in 44.7% and 22.8%, respectively. Regarding job variables, 30.7% expressed excessive demands, 82.5% claimed low job control, and 27.2% reported low social support. We highlight the correlation between emotional exhaustion (MEE) and Maslach burnout (rho=.958, p<.001), and between MEE and depression (rho=.885, p<.001). Furthermore, the regression analyses showed that MEE was significant predictors for CBI-PB/CBI-WRB and for depression (p<.001) suggesting overlapping interference. Personal achievement reduction was a significant predictor for depression (p<.05) not for burnout emphasizing its importance for depression. Our findings may help distinguish between burnout and depression and handle them more effectively.

Keywords: COVID-19, healthcare workers, burnout, depression predictors

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 8, August 2023,

Pages: 994 - 1004