Progressive intensification of burnout among academic staff during the war

This study examined the intensification of burnout among Ukrainian academic staff during the full-scale war, focusing on three core dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Data were collected across three waves (July 2022, January 2023, and January 2024) from 1493 participants using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Findings reveal a significant increase in high EE levels from 49.5% in Wave 1 to 71.8% in Wave 3. High DP levels also grew substantially, from 32.9% to 59.4%. In contrast, low PA levels decreased from 22.0% to 13.0%, while high PA levels increased from 45.7% to 59.9%. Additionally, regression analysis showed that institutional relocation was associated with lower burnout, whereas migration status and sustained war-related stress were linked to higher levels of burnout dimensions. Findings underscore the cumulative impact of sustained crisis on occupational well-being. Additionally, the data suggest that across waves, burnout symptoms appeared more generalized at the population level. The results highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to support the resilience of academic staff in conflict-affected environments. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on occupational burnout in crisis settings, offering insights relevant to other regions experiencing prolonged instability.