Associations of Night-Shift Work, Sleep Duration, and Physical Activity with Burnout Among Healthcare Workers in...

Background/Objectives: Occupational burnout is a major challenge among healthcare workers. Night-shift work, insufficient sleep, and lifestyle factors may contribute to higher burnout levels. This study examined associations of night-shift work, sleep duration, and physical activity with burnout using the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 213 healthcare workers undergoing routine occupational health assessments in Bucharest, Romania, between January and April 2026. Burnout was assessed using the BAT-23 core questionnaire and BAT Secondary Symptoms module. Data on night-shift work, sleep duration, physical activity, age, sex, and professional experience were analyzed using group comparisons, correlations, and multivariable linear regression. Results: Night-shift workers had higher burnout scores than non-night-shift workers (3.36 ± 0.43 vs. 2.44 ± 0.41, p < 0.001), while physically active participants had lower scores than sedentary workers (2.46 ± 0.44 vs. 3.23 ± 0.52, p < 0.001). Burnout correlated negatively with sleep duration (r = -0.336, p < 0.001) and physical activity (r = -0.655, p < 0.001), and positively with night-shift work (r = 0.798, p < 0.001). In adjusted analysis, night-shift work (B = 0.831, 95% CI 0.637-1.024, p < 0.001), shorter sleep duration (B = -0.079, 95% CI -0.127 to -0.031, p = 0.001), and female sex (B = 0.162, 95% CI 0.029-0.295, p = 0.017; male = 0, female = 1) were associated with higher burnout; the model explained 58.6% of the variance. Conclusions: Night-shift work and shorter self-reported sleep duration were independently associated with higher burnout. Physical activity was associated with lower burnout only in unadjusted analyses. Owing to the cross-sectional design and self-reported exposures, findings should be interpreted as associations and confirmed longitudinally.