The relationship between employee motivation and professional burnout among nurses in Germany: an analytical study

The purpose of the following paper is to elaborate on the connections between motivation and professional burnout. The analytical study will concern nurses employed in Germany. In particular, the study focuses on explaining how different types of motivation influence burnout indicators.

The study employed a quantitative research approach using the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS), the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess burnout and motivation among 301 nurses.

The results revealed that nurses with higher intrinsic motivation experienced lower burnout levels, while those relying on external regulation and amotivation exhibited greater emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Moreover, older and more experienced nurses reported higher burnout levels and declining intrinsic motivation, while younger nurses demonstrated stronger engagement but faced significant workplace stress. Workplace factors such as fairness, workload, and rewards were found to significantly influence motivation and burnout.

The findings emphasize the need for healthcare institutions to implement strategies that would support development of intrinsic motivation and improve working conditions to reduce burnout and support long-term professional engagement of nurses. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):586-95.