INTRODUCTION: Burnout syndrome is a state of long-term work exhaustion that manifests on three levels: cognitive, physical and emotional. Research regarding burnout syndrome has spiked in recent years. Despite burnout syndrome not being a clinical diagnosis, it has been recognized as a significant reason for work absence or, in some cases, even work leave. This study examines trends in burnout in the Czech population. The main aim of this research was to fill in the burnout literature gap and document the burnout trend over the years. Our secondary aim was to see if there is awareness regarding burnout syndrome and whether, over the years, we will see an increasing or a decreasing trend in burnout prevalence. METHODS: Data collection took place in three waves using the computer assisted web interviewing (CAWI) method. In 2014 n = 1,027, in 2017 n = 1,024, and in 2020 n = 1,000. Respondents were selected from the European National Panel. Because the target group was adults (18-65 years), an online survey was chosen. Internet penetration in this target population is sufficient, and it was not necessary to use a combination of methodologies. RESULTS: The results suggest a decreasing tendency for burnout syndrome in the Czech Republic. Knowledge about burnout syndrome is increasing, suggesting that people are paying more attention to their mental health and the possible factors that might affect the severity of burnout syndrome. CONCLUSION: Overall, burnout threatens the general population, not only medical employees. It is a positive finding that over the years, there has been an increasing trend in awareness about burnout. It further shows that people have adopted certain precautions and steps to avoid burnout syndrome as the perceived threat from it gradually decreases.

Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology School of Psychology University of Kent Canterbury United Kingdom

Department of Psychiatry Charles University and General University Hospital Prague Czechia

See more in PubMed

Shirom A. Burnout and health: expanding our knowledge. Stress Health. (2009) 25:281–5. doi: 10.1002/smi.1283 DOI

Ptáček R, Vňuková M, Raboch J. Work-related stress and mental health - can work lead to mental disorders? Cas Lek Cesk. (2017) 156:81–7. PubMed

Maslach C, Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP. Job burnout. Annu Rev Psychol. (2001) 52:397–422. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397 PubMed DOI

Hallsten L. “Burnout and wornout: concepts and data from a national survey,” in Research Companion to Organizational Health Psychology. eds. Antoniou AG, Cooper CL. (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing; ), (2005):516–36.

Ptáček R, Vňuková M, Raboch J, Smetáčková I, Harsa P, Švandová L. Syndrom vyhoření a životní styl učitelů českých základních škol. Česká a Slovenská Psychiatrie. (2018) 114:199–204.

Fong TCT, Ho RTH, Au-Yeung FSW, Sing CY, Law KY, Lee LF, et al. . The relationships of change in work climate with changes in burnout and depression: a 2-year longitudinal study of Chinese mental health care workers. Psychol Health Med. (2016) 21:401–12. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2015.1080849 PubMed DOI

van Dierendonck D, Shaufeli WB, Buunk BP. Inequity among human service professionals: measurement and relation to burnout. Basic Appl Soc Psychol. (1996) 18:429–51. doi: 10.1207/s15324834basp1804_5 DOI

Halbesleben JRB. Sources of social support and burnout: a meta-analytic test of the conservation of resources model. J Appl Psychol. (2006) 91:1134–45. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.91.5.1134 PubMed DOI

Sundin L, Hochwälder J, Lisspers J. A longitudinal examination of generic and occupational specific job demands, and work-related social support associated with burnout among nurses in Sweden. Work. (2011) 38:389–400. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2011-1142 PubMed DOI

Alacacioglu A, Yavuzsen T, Dirioz M, Oztop I, Yilmaz U. Burnout in nurses and physicians working at an oncology department. Psycho-Oncology. (2009) 18:543–8. doi: 10.1002/pon.1432 PubMed DOI

Kanai-Pak M, Aiken LH, Sloane DM, Poghosyan L. Poor work environments and nurse inexperience are associated with burnout, job dissatisfaction and quality deficits in Japanese hospitals. J Clin Nurs. (2008) 17:3324–9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02639.x PubMed DOI PMC

Losa Iglesias ME, Vallejo RBDB, Fuentes PS. The relationship between experiential avoidance and burnout syndrome in critical care nurses: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Int J Nurs Stud. (2010) 47:30–7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.06.014 PubMed DOI

Oakes WP, Lane KL, Jenkins A, Booker BB. Three-tiered models of prevention: teacher efficacy and burnout. Educ Treat Child. (2013) 36:95–126. doi: 10.1353/etc.2013.0037 DOI

Cañadas-De la Fuente GA, Vargas C, San Luis C, García I, Cañadas G. R, De la Fuente EI. Risk factors and prevalence of burnout syndrome in the nursing profession. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. (2015) 52:240–249. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.07.001 PubMed DOI

Brečka TA, Vňuková M, Raboch J, Ptáček R. Burnout syndrome among medical professionals: looking for solutions. Act Nerv Super. (2018) 60:33–9. doi: 10.1007/s41470-018-0018-3 DOI

Ptáček R, Vnukova M, Raboch J, Smetackova I, Sanders E, Svandova L, et al. . Burnout syndrome and lifestyle among primary school teachers: a Czech representative study. Med Sci Monitor. (2019) 25:4974–81. doi: 10.12659/MSM.914205 PubMed DOI PMC

Ptáček R, Vňuková M, Smetáčková I, Weissenberger S, Harsa P, Raboch J. Who burns out more? Comparison of burnout levels between teachers and physicians in the Czech Republic. Act Nerv Super. (2019) 61:165–9. doi: 10.1007/s41470-019-00034-3 DOI

Ptáček R, Raboch J, Kebza V, Šolcová I, Vňuková M, Hlinka J, et al. . Česká verze Shiromovy a Melamedovy Škály Vyhoření. Ceskoslovenska Psychologie. (2017) 61:536–545.

Maslach C, Jackson SE. The measurement of experienced burnout. J Organ Behav. (1981) 2:99–113. doi: 10.1002/job.4030020205 DOI

Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry. (2016) 15:103–11. doi: 10.1002/wps.20311 PubMed DOI PMC

Strain and serenity: exploring the interplay of stress, burnout, and well-being among healthcare professionals