Main Predictors of Burnout in Forestry Workers and Role of the Forest Environment in Mitigating Stress and Exhaustion

Forestry is a profession in which employees have daily contact with a variety of natural environments, mainly the forest. Many studies indicate that contact with the forest has a positive effect on mental and physical health, helping to combat depression and stress, which are symptoms of occupational burnout. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of job burnout among foresters, conducted anonymously in one of Poland’s forest districts. Forty-two people participated in the survey, using the Oldenburg Occupational Burnout Questionnaire (OLBI). The average number of overtime hours was 10.13 h per month. The average lack of commitment was 2.24, below the reference value of 2.25, while the average level of exhaustion was 2.33, exceeding the reference level of 2.1. Lack of commitment correlated with the number of overtime hours, while exhaustion and age correlated with seniority. The average forester showed no signs of lack of commitment, although minor signs of exhaustion were observed. The results suggest that forestry work may reduce the risk of burnout. However, excessive responsibilities and overtime can lead to exhaustion and reduced commitment, which threatens employee wellbeing.