DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003892 ISSN: 1076-2752

Burnout in professionals working with children and adolescents in mental health, pediatric medicine, and social care settings - A convergent mixed methods study

Daniel Vella Fondacaro, Caroline Vassallo, Annalise Bellizzi, Francesca Vella Fondacaro
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Objective:

This mixed-methods study analyzed burnout in healthcare and social care professionals working with children and adolescents.

Methods:

Participants ( n = 101) were chosen using snowball sampling; these worked in mental health, pediatric medicine, or social care institutions. Online questionnaires were distributed and 8 participants were chosen for interviews through purposive sampling.

Results:

Burnout decreased with age ( p =.01), while doctors reported the highest burnout ( M = 44.39). Pediatric medicine professionals reported significantly higher burnout ( M = 43.54); social care institution professionals reported the lowest ( M = 37.46). Exhaustion correlated with disengagement ( p <.001). Qualitative results identified contributors for burnout, including clinical pressures and systemic challenges. Peer support, supervision, and multidisciplinary approaches were considered protective.

Conclusions:

Findings inform service developers to implement burnout reduction strategies, improving retention rates and the overall working experience.

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