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Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy
Interests: work ability; aging workforce; ergonomics
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Guest Editor
Department of Educational & Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki 546 36, Greece
Interests: burnout; patient safety; quality of care

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychological Sciences, Health, and Territory, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini - Campus Universitario, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Job burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed (WHO, 2019). The feeling of exhaustion or energy depletion is considered the “core dimension” of this syndrome. However, other symptoms include cynicism, reduced professional efficacy, disillusion, or a sense of guilt. Professionals working directly with clients, patients, or other recipients are the occupational categories that are the most prone to developing this syndrome.

Since the early 1980s, research on burnout has been growing exponentially, and a large corpus of empirical evidence has been gained regarding its antecedents and outcomes across various occupations and work settings. Despite this, further research on this topic is needed. The continuing transformations at economic, social, and demographic levels are determining the emergence of new psychosocial factors that may affect the development of this syndrome and, in turn, intensify its possible ramifications on individual and organizational health (EU-OSHA, 2019). In this evolving scenario, scholars are called to constantly advance research in order to identify new areas of burnout risk and protecting factors among specific organizational settings as well as to update well-established theoretical models developed to understand the burnout phenomenon.

Based on this premise, for this Special Issue of IJERPH, we invite authors to submit quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method studies or literature reviews (e.g., meta-analysis, systematic review) that may advance the body of knowledge on the topic of burnout. Examples of research topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

  • Psychosocial risk factors for burnout in relation to specific new and emerging issues (e.g., aging, job demands intensification, job insecurity, workplace violence, work–life balance, the pandemic covid-19);
  • The roles of socio-demographic, personal, health-, and work-related factors in the development of burnout;
  • The identification of mediators and or moderators in the relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and burnout;
  • The prevalence of burnout among specific occupations and work settings. 

References

World Health Organization (2019). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (11th ed.). https://icd.who.int/.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2019). Third European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER 3). EU-OSHA Publication Office, Bilbao (ES). https://osha.europa.eu/en/facts-and-figures/esener.

Dr. Sara Viotti
Dr. Anthony Montgomery
Dr. Guidetti Gloria
Dr. Igor Portoghese
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • job burnout
  • exhaustion
  • work-related psychosocial factors
  • psychosocial factors at work
  • emerging psychosocial risks in the workplace

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 783 KiB  
Article
Do Menopausal Symptoms Affect the Relationship between Job Demands, Work Ability, and Exhaustion? Testing a Moderated Mediation Model in a Sample of Italian Administrative Employees
by Sara Viotti, Gloria Guidetti, Ilaria Sottimano, Lucia Travierso, Mara Martini and Daniela Converso
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10029; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph181910029 - 24 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2976
Abstract
(1) Background: The increasing presence of employed women undergoing menopause has stimulated a growing corpus of research highlighting the complex relationship between menopause and work. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the mechanism by which menopause affects work ability and work-related well-being. In order [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The increasing presence of employed women undergoing menopause has stimulated a growing corpus of research highlighting the complex relationship between menopause and work. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the mechanism by which menopause affects work ability and work-related well-being. In order to fill this gap in the literature, the present study examines whether and how menopausal symptoms affect the relationship between job demands, work ability, and exhaustion. (2) Method: In total, 1069 menopausal women, employed as administrative officers in a public organization, filled out a self-report questionnaire. A moderated mediation analysis was carried out using the latent moderated structural (LMS) equation. (3) Findings: The findings of this analysis indicate that the indirect effect of work ability on the relationship between job demands and exhaustion is influenced by the exacerbating effect of menopausal symptoms on the relationship between job demands and work ability. Moreover, the conditional effect confirmed that women with high menopausal symptoms receive more exposure to the negative effects of job demands on work ability compared to women with low menopausal symptoms. (4) Conclusion: The present findings may help in addressing interventions to prevent negative outcomes for menopausal women and their organizations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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21 pages, 606 KiB  
Article
Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)
by Chiara Consiglio, Greta Mazzetti and Wilmar B. Schaufeli
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(18), 9469; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18189469 - 08 Sep 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2673
Abstract
The most popular instrument to measure burnout is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Recently, to overcome some of the limitations of the MBI, a new instrument has been proposed, namely the Burnout Assessment Tool. The purpose of this study is to examine the [...] Read more.
The most popular instrument to measure burnout is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Recently, to overcome some of the limitations of the MBI, a new instrument has been proposed, namely the Burnout Assessment Tool. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the BAT. This tool is comprised of a set of four core dimensions (BAT-C; i.e., exhaustion, mental distance, cognitive and emotional impairment) and two secondary symptom dimensions (BAT-S; i.e., psychological and psychosomatic complaints). Data were collected on a sample of 738 participants from heterogeneous sectors and professional roles. In the sample women were slightly overrepresented (52.9%), the participants had a mean age of 41.57 years (SD = 10.51) and a mean organizational tenure of 9.65 years (SD = 8.50). The reliability and factorial structure of the BAT-C and BAT-S, together with the convergent and discriminant validity of BAT-C and MBI were explored, as well as the incremental validity to the BAT-C, over and beyond the MBI. Our results confirmed the factorial validity of a two-factor second-order factor model (BAT-C and BAT-S) represented by 4 first-order factors in the case of BAT-C and 2 first-order factors for BAT-S. Results also attested that BAT-C explains additional variance of the BAT-S, above and beyond what is explained by the MBI-GS. All in all, this study provided evidence that the Italian version of BAT represents a reliable and valid tool for measuring burnout in the work context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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24 pages, 2112 KiB  
Article
Insomnia among Prison Officers and Its Relationship with Occupational Burnout: The Role of Coping with Stress in Polish and Indonesian Samples
by Ewa Sygit-Kowalkowska, Andrzej Piotrowski and Imaduddin Hamzah
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4282; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18084282 - 17 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3530
Abstract
Thus far, data on sleep disorders among prison officers (POs) have been scarce. Research allows us to relate this problem to occupational stress, which POs experience every day. The aim of the current study was to analyze the scale, predictors, and impact of [...] Read more.
Thus far, data on sleep disorders among prison officers (POs) have been scarce. Research allows us to relate this problem to occupational stress, which POs experience every day. The aim of the current study was to analyze the scale, predictors, and impact of select factors on the relationship between insomnia and occupational burnout. This study was carried out on a sample of 376 Indonesian and 288 Polish POs using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) inventory, and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). Results showed that 43.4% of the Polish sample exhibited early symptoms of insomnia, compared to 26.1% of the Indonesian sample. Sleep disorders had a significant role in developing occupational burnout. In both samples, coping strategies such as help-seeking and engagement were revealed to have a mediating role in the relationship between insomnia and occupational burnout dimensions. For the total sample and for the Polish sample, the coping strategy of help-seeking was the only predictor of insomnia. Discrepancies (concerning the role of age, gender, and multi-shift work) were observed between the current results and earlier studies. The current study’s limitations were discussed and new solutions were proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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16 pages, 1165 KiB  
Article
Burnout and Engagement Dimensions in the Reception System of Illegal Immigration in the Mediterranean Sea. A Qualitative Study on a Sample of Italian Practitioners
by Marcello Nonnis, Mirian Agus, Monica Piera Pirrone, Stefania Cuccu, Maria Luisa Pedditzi and Claudio Giovanni Cortese
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3726; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073726 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2482
Abstract
The present study describes the semantic nature of burnout and engagement in the operators involved in the management of illegal immigration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a sample of Italian practitioners (n = 62) of the two levels of the reception system [...] Read more.
The present study describes the semantic nature of burnout and engagement in the operators involved in the management of illegal immigration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a sample of Italian practitioners (n = 62) of the two levels of the reception system considered: (1) rescue and first aid and (2) reception and integration. Within the framework of the job demands–resources model (JD-R), the interviews deepened the analysis of the positive and negative dimensions of burnout and engagement: exhaustion versus energy, relational deterioration versus relational involvement, professional inefficacy versus professional efficacy and disillusion versus trust. The interviews were analysed using the T-Lab software, through a cluster analysis (bisecting K-means algorithm), which emphasised noteworthy themes. The results show that, in the vast majority of the dimensions considered (for both levels of reception), the same dimensions of engagement of the operators (energy, relational involvement, professional efficacy and trust) are able to lead them into a condition of burnout, with experiences, conversely, of exhaustion, relational deterioration, professional inefficacy and disillusion. These findings expand the knowledge on burnout and engagement in practitioners of illegal immigration, a context characterised by the value of help and welcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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18 pages, 754 KiB  
Article
Burnout and Cognitive Performance
by Panagiota Koutsimani, Anthony Montgomery, Elvira Masoura and Efharis Panagopoulou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18042145 - 22 Feb 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6052
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between burnout and cognitive functioning. The associations of depression, anxiety and family support with burnout and cognitive functioning were also examined both independently and as potential moderators of the burnout–cognitive functioning relationship. Seven [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between burnout and cognitive functioning. The associations of depression, anxiety and family support with burnout and cognitive functioning were also examined both independently and as potential moderators of the burnout–cognitive functioning relationship. Seven different cognitive tasks were administered to employees of the general working population and five cognitive domains were assessed; i.e., executive functions, working memory, memory (episodic, visuospatial, prospective), attention/speed of processing and visuospatial abilities. Burnout, depression, anxiety and family support were assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Family Support Scale respectively. In congruence with the first and fourth (partially) Hypotheses, burnout and perceived family support are significantly associated with some aspects of cognitive functioning. Moreover, in line with the third Hypothesis, perceived family support is inversely related to burnout. However, in contrast to the second and fourth Hypotheses, depression, anxiety and perceived family support do not moderate the burnout–cognitive functioning relationship. Additional results reveal positive associations between burnout depression and anxiety. Overall findings suggest that cognitive deficits, depression and anxiety appear to be common in burnout while they underpin the role of perceived family support in both mental health and cognitive functioning. Implications for practice are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
10 pages, 330 KiB  
Article
Burnout Syndrome during Residency Training in Jordan: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Implications
by Abdullah Nimer, Suzan Naser, Nesrin Sultan, Rawand Said Alasad, Alexander Rabadi, Mohammed Abu-Jubba, Mohammed Q. Al-Sabbagh, Khaldoon M. Jaradat, Zaid AlKayed, Emad Aborajooh, Salam Daradkeh and Mohammad Abufaraj
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1557; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18041557 - 06 Feb 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3896
Abstract
Burnout syndrome is common among healthcare professions, including resident physicians. We aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout among resident physicians in Jordan, and a secondary aim was to evaluate the risk factors associated with the development of burnout syndrome in those residents, [...] Read more.
Burnout syndrome is common among healthcare professions, including resident physicians. We aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout among resident physicians in Jordan, and a secondary aim was to evaluate the risk factors associated with the development of burnout syndrome in those residents, including gender, working hours, psychological distress, training sector, and specialty. In this cross-sectional study, 481 residents were recruited utilizing multistage stratified sampling to represent the four major health sectors in Jordan. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, where the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) was used to assess the prevalence of burnout. The prevalence, group differences, and predictors of burnout were statistically analyzed using STATA 15. Overall, 373 (77.5%) residents were found to have burnout. Factors associated with higher levels of burnout were psychological stress (β = 2.34, CI = [1.88–2.81]), longer working hours (β = 4.07, CI = [0.52–7.62], for 51–75 h a week, β = 7.27, CI = [2.86–11.69], for 76–100 h a week and β = 7.27, CI = [0.06–14.49], for >100 h a week), and obstetrics/gynecology residents (β = 9.66, CI = [3.59–15.73]). Conversely, medical sub-specialty residents, as well as private and university hospital residents, had lower burnout levels. We concluded that decreasing the workload on residents, offering psychological counseling, and promoting a safety culture for residents might help in mitigating burnout consequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
21 pages, 1090 KiB  
Article
Job Demand-Control-Support Latent Profiles and Their Relationships with Interpersonal Stressors, Job Burnout, and Intrinsic Work Motivation
by Igor Portoghese, Maura Galletta, Michael P. Leiter, Gabriele Finco, Ernesto d’Aloja and Marcello Campagna
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9430; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17249430 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7340
Abstract
In the Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) model, the combination of job demands, job control, and social support was hypothesized to lead to eight different constellations of job types. According to the model, these constellations are linked to wellbeing/health and learning outcomes. In the last [...] Read more.
In the Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) model, the combination of job demands, job control, and social support was hypothesized to lead to eight different constellations of job types. According to the model, these constellations are linked to wellbeing/health and learning outcomes. In the last three decades, these constellations of job types have been investigated by adopting a variable-centered perspective. However, latent profile analyses (LPA) enable a person-centered approach and empirically capture constellations of job types. In the present study, we used LPA to empirically identify distinct profiles of JDCS among Italian healthcare workers. Furthermore, we investigated the role of social stressors (workplace relationships and coworkers’ incivility) as antecedents of these profiles and the association of these profiles with job burnout and work motivation. Results from LPA (n = 1671) revealed four profiles: Isolated Prisoner, Participatory Leader, Moderate Strain, and Low Strain. Negative relationships at work and coworkers’ incivility increased the chances of being included in both Isolated prisoner and Participatory Leader profiles. Finally, the Isolated Prisoner and Moderate Strain profiles showed the highest levels of emotional exhaustion and cynicism and the lower levels of intrinsic work motivation. This study extends previous JDCS research, highlighting that researchers should consider empirically identified profiles rather than theoretically defined subgroups. Implications for stress theory, future research, and practice are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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17 pages, 1685 KiB  
Article
Influence of Burnout and Feelings of Guilt on Depression and Health in Anesthesiologists
by Alejandra Misiolek-Marín, Ana Soto-Rubio, Hanna Misiolek and Pedro R. Gil-Monte
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9267; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17249267 - 11 Dec 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2942
Abstract
Background and objective: The WHO has included burnout as an occupational phenomenon in the ICD-11. According to the WHO, burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The study aimed to evaluate the influence [...] Read more.
Background and objective: The WHO has included burnout as an occupational phenomenon in the ICD-11. According to the WHO, burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of feelings of guilt and burnout on health in Polish anesthesiologists. Alcohol and tobacco intake, psychosomatic disorders, and depression were assessed. Methods: The study had a non–randomized cross-sectional character. The sample consisted of 372 Polish anesthesiologists. Burnout was measured by the Spanish burnout inventory. Results: Post hoc analysis for burnout consequences: depression (F(5,366) = 17.51, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.193), psychosomatic disorders (F(5,366) = 13.11, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.152), and tobacco intake (F(5,366) = 6.23, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.078), showed significant differences between burnout with and without the highest levels of feelings of guilt. All the instruments applied were reliable. Conclusions: Depression, psychosomatic disorders, and alcohol and tobacco intake are suspected to be consequences of the highest guilt levels related to burnout, i.e., Profile 2 according to the burnout model of Gil-Monte. Participation in prevention programs is recommended for these cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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18 pages, 932 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Caring and Killing on Physiological and Psychometric Measures of Stress in Animal Shelter Employees: A Pilot Study
by Allison Andrukonis, Nathaniel J Hall and Alexandra Protopopova
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9196; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17249196 - 09 Dec 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3472
Abstract
Animal shelter employees are in a unique position where they care for, and later kill, the same animals. The aim of our exploratory study was to assess whether “caring” and/or “killing” evokes physiological and psychometric indicators of stress in employees. Experiment 1 compared [...] Read more.
Animal shelter employees are in a unique position where they care for, and later kill, the same animals. The aim of our exploratory study was to assess whether “caring” and/or “killing” evokes physiological and psychometric indicators of stress in employees. Experiment 1 compared three careers that kill regularly, but involve varying degrees of husbandry (n = 28). Blood pressure (BP), salivary cortisol, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were collected; data showed higher HR and lower HRV during the process of killing. Psychometric scales showed that burnout and Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scores were higher in careers with higher contact with animals. Experiment 2 compared three careers that involve husbandry, but varying exposure to killing (n = 41). BP, cortisol awakening response, HR, and HRV were measured as well as Professional Quality of Life Scale, IES-R, and Moral Injury Event Scale were administered. There were no significant differences across careers in any measures. The data suggest that the process of killing may be physiologically stressful to the person, and higher levels of animal contact in a euthanasia context may be associated with burnout and traumatic stress, but that the act of euthanasia is not a unique predictor of overall occupational distress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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Review

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15 pages, 699 KiB  
Review
Emotional Labor and Burnout among Teachers: A Systematic Review
by Anna Kariou, Panagiota Koutsimani, Anthony Montgomery and Olga Lainidi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12760; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182312760 - 03 Dec 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7782
Abstract
A significant amount of emotional labor takes place during teaching. Teaching is a multitasking profession that consists of both cognitive and emotional components, with teachers engaging in emotional labor on a daily basis as an instrumental part of achieving teaching goals and positive [...] Read more.
A significant amount of emotional labor takes place during teaching. Teaching is a multitasking profession that consists of both cognitive and emotional components, with teachers engaging in emotional labor on a daily basis as an instrumental part of achieving teaching goals and positive learning outcomes. The purpose of the present review was to explore the relationship between emotional labor and burnout in school settings. The review focused specifically on teachers from elementary and high schools, between January 2006 and August 2021, and 21 studies fit the inclusion criteria. Overall, the review of the literature supports the significant associations between burnout and emotional labor with the majority of results pointing to the consistent relationship between surface acting and burnout. However, the results regarding the association of deep acting and naturally felt emotions with burnout were mixed. There is considerable scope for improvement in our study of emotional labor in terms of the study designs we employ, the variables we study and our appreciation of the historical and cultural factors that moderate and mediate the relationship between emotional labor and burnout. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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17 pages, 620 KiB  
Review
A Cognitive Behavioral Model Proposing That Clinical Burnout May Maintain Itself
by Niclas Almén
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3446; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073446 - 26 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6448
Abstract
Burnout is common in many countries and is associated with several other problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and memory deficits, and prospectively it predicts long-term sick-leave, cardiovascular disease, and death. Clinical burnout or its residual symptoms often last several years and a [...] Read more.
Burnout is common in many countries and is associated with several other problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and memory deficits, and prospectively it predicts long-term sick-leave, cardiovascular disease, and death. Clinical burnout or its residual symptoms often last several years and a common assumption is that recovery takes a long time by nature, despite full time sick-leave and the absence of work stress. The literature suggests models that hypothetically explain the development, but not maintenance, of the syndrome. Based on cognitive and behavioral principles, stress research, and stress theories, this paper describes a theoretical model explaining how clinical burnout can develop and be maintained. While the development of clinical burnout is mainly explained by prolonged stress reactions and disturbed recovery processes due to work related stressors, maintenance of the syndrome is particularly explained by prolonged stress reactions and disturbed recovery processes due to the new context of experiencing burnout and being on sick-leave. Worry about acquired memory deficits, passivity and excessive sleep, shame, fear of stress reactions, and the perception of not being safe are examples of responses that can contribute to the maintenance. The model has important implications for research and how to intervene in clinical burnout. For example, it can offer support to professional care providers and patients in terms of focusing on, identifying, and changing current contextual factors and behaviors that maintain the individual’s clinical burnout symptoms and by that facilitate burnout recovery. Regarding research, the model provides a highly important reason for researchers to study contextual factors and behaviors that contribute to the maintenance of clinical burnout, which has been neglected in research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Job Burnout: A Deep-Rooted Issue in Ever-Changing Workplaces)
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