Understanding burnout and engagement during medical residency
A multifactorial and longitudinal approach
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22424977 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anniglo Boone (0000-0002-4075-3571, Department of Public Health, corresponding author), Jonas Steel (0000-0002-3303-8289, KU Leuven), Olivia Lavreysen (0000-0001-6524-8144, KU Leuven), Marie-Claire Lambrechts, Marie‐Claire Lambrechts (0000-0002-0661-3110, Flemish Government), Sofie Vandenbroeck (0000-0001-8957-5094), Lutgart Braeckman (0000-0002-6016-8134, Ghent University), Nele Michels (0000-0003-1971-0793, IMEC), Dirk Devroey (0000-0002-6083-2998, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Ann Roex (0000-0003-1880-2549, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Hanne Kindermans (0000-0003-2723-1645, Hasselt University), Lode Godderis (0000-0003-4764-8835, KU Leuven) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-29 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMC Medical Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-6920 • E-ISSN: 1472-6920 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12909-026-09568-y |
| PMID | 42216171 |
| OpenAlex | W7162806957 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 76 |
BACKGROUND: The residency period constitutes a critical phase of medical training, during which increasing clinical and professional responsibilities influence residents' well-being. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources model, this study investigates how burnout and engagement evolve during this period and examines their associations with specific demands, resources, and personality traits. METHODS: Between 2021 and 2025, data were collected annually via an online survey administered to medical residents from five Belgian universities (n = 1068). Burnout dimensions (i.e., emotional exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy) and engagement were assessed alongside their associations with demands, resources, and personality traits. Linear mixed-effects models estimated the relationships between independent and dependent variables. RESULTS: The findings show that emotional exhaustion and cynicism modestly but gradually increased over time, while engagement slightly declined and professional efficacy remained stable. Work-home conflict showed the strongest association with the outcomes, while meaningfulness was identified as the most prominent resource and neuroticism as the strongest personal factor consistently linked to all outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the urgent need for structural interventions within residency programs to address key demands and strengthen meaningful work, while recognizing neuroticism as a vulnerability factor in protecting residents' well-being. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
Big Five personality traits · Burnout · Conscientiousness · Cynicism · Emotional exhaustion · Neuroticism · Personality · Psychological intervention · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Innovations in Medical Education
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Prevalence of Burnout Among Physicians
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Work engagement
The job demands-resources model
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Towards a model of work engagement
Instrument translation process
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Missing Data
Multidimensional Perfectionism and Burnout
Understanding the burnout experience
Statistical notes for clinical researchers
Controlling the False Discovery Rate
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The job demands-resources model of burnout.
Understanding dropout intentions in medical education
Job Demands–Resources Theory
Burnout in medical students
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Is There Utility in Specifying Professional Efficacy as an Outcome of Burnout in the Employee Health Impairment Process
Exploring the relative importance of work-organizational burnout risk factors in Belgian residents
In their own words
Understanding How Personality Impacts Exhaustion and Engagement
Short and extra-short forms of the Big Five Inventory–2
Work–nonwork conflict and burnout
The measurement of experienced burnout
Burnout and Engagement in University Students
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |