# The Effect of Workplace Pressure and Experience on Burnout in Embryologists Working in Assisted Reproduction in Spain

## TL;DR

This study shows that Spanish embryologists in assisted reproduction face high burnout due to workplace pressure, which impacts their mental health and job performance.

## Contribution

The study confirms the Leiter and Maslach burnout model in embryologists and highlights the role of workplace pressure as a key driver of burnout.

## Key findings

- 35.4% of embryologists showed high emotional exhaustion, 42.5% depersonalization, and 28.3% low personal accomplishment.
- Workplace pressure was strongly linked to emotional exhaustion, which in turn affected other burnout dimensions.
- Burnout in embryologists could negatively impact assisted reproduction processes.

## Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Approximately 12% of births in Spain are the result of Assisted Reproduction (AR).The work performed by embryologists working in AR is of vital importance in the successful process of AR, consequently, their workplace wellbeing is a public health issue.

Approximately 12% of births in Spain are the result of Assisted Reproduction (AR).

The work performed by embryologists working in AR is of vital importance in the successful process of AR, consequently, their workplace wellbeing is a public health issue.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
Spanish embryologists working in AR show a burnout pattern with moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment.The causal pattern found in the burnout dimensions is emotional exhaustion as the first and close dimension to workplace pressure, affecting both depersonalization and low personal accomplishment.

Spanish embryologists working in AR show a burnout pattern with moderate to high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment.

The causal pattern found in the burnout dimensions is emotional exhaustion as the first and close dimension to workplace pressure, affecting both depersonalization and low personal accomplishment.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
Interventions in the embryologist’s workplace are necessary to promote their own physical and mental health.Burnout prevention protocols are necessary due to potential negative consequences that burnout in embryologists could have in the AR process.

Interventions in the embryologist’s workplace are necessary to promote their own physical and mental health.

Burnout prevention protocols are necessary due to potential negative consequences that burnout in embryologists could have in the AR process.

Professionals working in Assisted Reproduction (AR) have shown high levels of burnout, with embryologists being the most affected. Previous studies have found that burnout shows symptomatology when professionals are exposed to long-lasting workplace stressors. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were estimating burnout levels in embryologists working in AR and testing whether the observed associations between the variables measured fit existing theoretical models. A cross-sectional design was used in a sample of 127 Spanish embryologists working in AR. Years working in AR, excessive workplace pressure and burnout dimensions, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment were measured. Results showed that burnout was present in significant percentages of embryologists working in AR (35.4%, 42.5%, and 28.3% showing high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment, respectively). Additionally, relational and mediational analyses provided support for the Leiter and Maslach’s theoretical model where emotional exhaustion was the first and closer variable to the stressor high pressure in the workplace, followed by depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment. Implications arising from this study directly affect the mental health of embryologists and their performance on the job, where interventions targeting perceived workplace pressure may reduce burnout indicators in embryologists working in AR.