Associations between effort–reward imbalance and risk of burnout among Swedish physicians
Filip Christiansen, Britta Elsert Gynning, Abid Ali Lashari, Gun Johansson, Emma Brulin
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of burnout among Swedish physicians may have several possible effects on individuals and society. However, further investigations of work-related factors associated with the risk of burnout among Swedish physicians are needed. AIMS: We aimed to study the associations between psychosocial work factors, based on the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, and the risk of burnout among Swedish physicians. METHODS: A representative sample of 7200 Swedish physicians was invited in 2021. Data were gathered through questionnaires, with a response rate of 41%. Logistic regression models were used to study the associations between exposure to ERI and the risk of burnout. RESULTS: Approximately 62% of Swedish physicians were exposed to a high ERI. Exposure to a high ERI was associated with 11 times increased risk (95% confidence interval 6.5-20.0) of burnout in adjusted models. Large variations in the prevalence of ERI and risk of burnout across sociodemographic and occupational factors were identified, particularly across different clinical specialties. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of Swedish physicians were exposed to high levels of work-related stress, strongly associated with an increased risk of burnout. This population-based cross-sectional study underlines the need to further study variations of work-related stress across clinical specialties and to monitor occupational health among physicians longitudinally.