Psychosocial and occupational correlates of burnout among nurses from selected hospitals in three countries in Central Europe: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Occupational burnout among nurses constitutes an important public health issue due to its impact on workforce sustainability and quality of care. Although stress is considered a key correlate of burnout, evidence regarding associations between psychosocial, demographic, and occupational factors and burnout in Central European settings remains limited. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2024 and March 2025 among 610 nurses employed in selected hospitals in Central Europe. Occupational burnout was assessed using the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ), and perceived stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Associations between burnout, stress, and demographic and occupational variables were examined using nonparametric methods and Spearman's rank correlations. Multivariable linear regression models were applied to assess variables associated with burnout severity. Results: Burnout levels were moderate, with the highest scores observed for psychophysical exhaustion and disengagement from patient relationships. More than one-third of nurses reported high perceived stress. Perceived stress showed significant weak-to-moderate correlations with all burnout dimensions and remained the strongest correlate in multivariable analyses, while demographic and occupational variables showed generally weaker associations with burnout dimensions. Conclusion: Occupational burnout among nurses was more strongly associated with perceived stress than with demographic or occupational characteristics. Public health interventions should prioritize reducing psychosocial stressors and improving working conditions in nursing environments.