Predictors of burnout in female nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of burnout in female nurses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also sought to evaluate the relationship between each of the variables studied (anxiety, depression, sociodemographic and COVID-19 variables) and the dimensions of the burnout.

Background: One of the groups of health care workers worst affected by the COVID-19 crisis has been women working as nursing staff, due to the high percentage they account for at a global level and their direct contact with infected patients.

Design: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study.

Methods: Four hundred forty-four Spanish female nurses from hospital and primary health care centres took part in the study. The data were obtained in 2020 by means of an online survey.

Results: Symptoms of depression are a common predictor variable to all the dimensions of burnout, whereas symptoms of anxiety predict emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Age and years of experience in the job predict depersonalization, whereas the probability of contracting the infection is a predictor variable of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment.

Conclusion: Predictor variables should be considered in the creation of prevention and intervention plans to reduce the levels of burnout in female nurses.

Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; burnout; depression; nurses; pandemic.