ORIGINAL PAPER
The relationship between employee motivation and professional burnout among nurses in Germany: an analytical study
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1
Gute-Zeit-Pflege24 APD GmbH, Obernburg am Main, Germany
2
Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
(Department of Public Health)
3
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Klinikum, Neubrandenburg, Germany
(Department of Neurosurgery)
4
Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
(Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology)
Online publication date: 2025-11-07
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Swakowska
Gute-Zeit-Pflege24 APD GmbH, Im Weidig 27, 63785 Obernburg am Main, Germany
HIGHLIGHTS
- Higher intrinsic motivation correlates with lower burnout.
- The longer the time in the nursing profession, the higher the level of burnout.
- Salary has little impact on the level of burnout.
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: 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. Material and Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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)