Predictors of Burnout and Well-Being Among Veterinarians in Slovenia
by
, , and
Ožbalt Podpečan
1,*
,
Valentina Hlebec
2
,
Metka Kuhar
3,
Valentina Kubale
4 and
Breda Jakovac Strajn
5
1
National Center for Animal Welfare, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2
Academic Unit of Social Informatics and Methodology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
3
Academic Unit of Media Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
4
Institute of Preclinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
5
Institute of Food Safety, Veterinary Faculty, Feed and Environment, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(4), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12040387
Submission received: 3 March 2025
/
Revised: 20 March 2025
/
Accepted: 18 April 2025
/
Published: 20 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Education, Veterinary Communication and Animal Behavior)
Simple Summary
Veterinary medicine is often idealized as a beautiful, romantic and noble profession dedicated to improving the well-being of animals and their owners. Veterinarians are expected to always be available, empathetic, knowledgeable and fully committed to their work. However, such professional commitment comes with considerable challenges. Burnout syndrome is particularly common in caring professions such as veterinary medicine. Burnout symptoms associated with ethical and moral dilemmas, financial stress, loneliness and a disturbed work–life balance often affect the mental health of veterinarians. Although awareness of mental health problems in veterinary medicine is increasing worldwide, studies are mainly focused on Australia and Western regions such as North America and Western Europe. Eastern and Southern Europe, including Slovenia, are notably underrepresented in the literature. This study shows that work–life imbalance, ethical conflicts and long working hours in Slovenian veterinarians are important predictors of burnout symptoms. Younger and female veterinarians are disproportionately affected compared to older veterinarians who are better able to cope with stress.
Abstract
Burnout is a major challenge for the veterinary profession and is closely linked to negative effects on mental health, reduced job satisfaction and impaired professional sustainability. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of burnout symptoms among Slovenian veterinarians and their association with factors such as work–life balance, ethical dilemmas and overall job satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024, to which all registered Slovenian veterinarians (N = 1250) were invited. The response rate was 38% (N = 473). Burnout was assessed using the Mayo Clinic Physicians Wellbeing Index, which captures both the traditional burnout dimensions and broader indicators of psychological distress such as anxiety and depression. Results showed that 45.5% of veterinarians reported low burnout, 26.4% reported moderate burnout, and 28.3% reported high burnout. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that work–life imbalance, ethical conflicts and long working hours were significant predictors of burnout symptoms, with younger veterinarians and women being disproportionately affected. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the systemic and individual factors that contribute to burnout in veterinary practice. Tailored interventions that focus on improving work–life balance, enhancing ethical decision-making and promoting mental health awareness are recommended to mitigate the risks of burnout. These findings contribute to the growing literature on veterinarian well-being and provide valuable insight into the development of targeted strategies to promote veterinarians’ mental health and career sustainability.
