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

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.