Factors Associated with Burnout in Medical Academia: An Exploratory Analysis of Romanian and Moldavian Physicians

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the extent of burnout in Romanian and Moldavian academic physicians and to determine the predictive value of emotional intelligence (EI), coping strategies, work motivation (WM), perceived organizational support (POS), and the socio-demographic characteristics of burnout. Two hundred physicians (40% men, 60% women, mean age = 43.02, SD = 9.91) participated in the study. They were administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory−General Survey, Brief COPE Scale, Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale, Schutte’s Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, and Perceived Organizational Support Scale. Mann−Whitney U tests were used to assess the significance of intercountry differences, while hierarchical regressions were performed to investigate the predictive value of the independent variables on burnout. Moldavian participants had significantly lower scores in burnout and amotivation (p < 0.001) and higher scores in EI, POS, and WM (p < 0.001). The main burnout predictors were amotivation (β = 0.388, p < 0.001) and low POS (β = −0.313, p< 0.001) in Moldavian respondents, and WM (intrinsic: β = −0.620, p < 0.001; extrinsic: β = 0.406, p < 0.001) in Romanian participants. Moldavian respondents displayed better adjustment to academic stress. The distribution of burnout predictors suggests better sensitivity of respondents to organizational interventions in Moldova and to individual therapy in Romania. This data could serve to better tailor Public Health interventions addressing burnout in the academic environment.