Burnout and mental health among veterinarians: The role of self-compassion and associated risk factors.

Background: Veterinarians represent a population at risk for burnout. The influence of self-compassion on the development and consequences of burnout remains poorly understood.

Methods: A validated 30-item survey was disseminated to registered members of the College of Veterinarians of Las Palmas (Spain) via Google Survey between October and December 2023 to assess levels of burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory-general survey) and self-compassion (self-compassion scale) and explore the prevalence of anxiety, depression and benzodiazepine use.

Results: A total of 141 responses were received. Respondents exhibited high levels of exhaustion and cynicism. Older veterinarians exhibited lower cynicism, while those with 1‒10 years of experience reported higher exhaustion. Veterinarians with more than 10 years in their current role demonstrated increased efficacy. Females showed a lower likelihood of self-compassion. Exhaustion and cynicism were negatively correlated with self-compassion. A total of 19.8% of the respondents reported being diagnosed with anxiety/depression, and 19.1% took benzodiazepines, half of them without a prescription.

Limitations: This cross-sectional study provides a snapshot of the situation at a single point in time and may be susceptible to response bias, such as the healthy worker effect.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions to address the complex interplay of burnout, self-compassion, mental health and demographic factors within the veterinary profession.