Date

11-13-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Wendy Anson

Keywords

burnout, left of the boom, healthcare worker, workload, self-determination theory, work-life balance

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

This study examined healthcare burnout, focusing on both organizational and individual factors that contribute to it, as well as mitigation strategies. Healthcare burnout increases the risk of harm to healthcare workers as well as their patients. Participants of the study included healthcare workers with direct experience in burnout. The aim was to understand their personal experiences, the actions, both individual and organizational, that contribute to burnout, and the methods that have been used with varying success to address it. The study also explored the connection between self-determination theory and the areas-of-work-life model, along with participants’ insights into contributing actions and potential solutions. Results showed that participants’ definitions of burnout aligned with those of the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization, including themes identified by Freudenberger. Participants’ lived experiences supported the primary dimensions of cynicism, exhaustion, and feelings of inefficacy. Key organizational contributors included workload, work hours, and lack of recognition, while individual factors involved unaddressed stress and poor work-life balance, which both the organization and the individual shared a role in. Ultimately, the study demonstrated that both individuals and organizations play crucial roles in preventing and mitigating burnout, which necessitates adjustments in workplace policies and procedures, as well as changes in individual mindsets and behaviors.

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