Academic burnout and its mental health correlates among veterinary nursing students in Ghana: A cross-sectional study

This study explored the prevalence and risk factors of academic burnout among veterinary nursing students in Ghana.A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among students in the veterinary nursing program. Burnout was assessed using a student-adapted 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory Educational Survey (MBI-ES), comprising emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Mental health was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Logistic regression analyses produced age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Of 204 students, 183 responded (19% women). High emotional exhaustion was observed in 35% of students, high depersonalization in 13%, and low personal accomplishment in 51%; 7% met criteria for overall burnout. Emotional exhaustion was associated with perceived stress (aOR 3.45, 95% CI 1.64–7.26), discrimination (aOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.10–4.73), and elevated anxiety (aOR 4.06, 95% CI 2.13–7.75), and depressive symptoms with reduced personal accomplishment (aOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.10–3.67). Factors protecting from burnout included studying >2 hours daily, choosing the program voluntarily, and having a better financial situation.Decreased personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion were common, but overall burnout was relatively low. Absence of financial difficulties was associated with lower odds of burnout.