Feelin' the burn: Post-pandemic burnout among United States neuropsychologists.

Objective: Burnout is a multidimensional concept in many professions. Research documented increased burnout within the field of neuropsychology during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study assessed burnout levels in neuropsychology post-pandemic, identified factors contributing to burnout, and assessed the impact of the pandemic on burnout levels. Method: United States neuropsychologists (N = 304, 81.9% women, Mage = 41.77) completed a survey about demographics, professional background, current experiences of burnout using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the impact of the pandemic on burnout. The authors calculated the frequencies for demographics, professional background, impact of the pandemic, and burnout levels. One-way multivariate analysis of variance and chi-square tests compared subspecialties on demographics and occupation. One-way multivariate analysis of covariance compared subspecialty differences in burnout. An independent sample t-test identified significant differences in burnout levels and demographics. Pearson correlations assessed the relationships between demographics, occupation, and burnout.

Results: Respondents indicated moderate personal (M = 53.10, SD = 18.67) and work burnout (M = 52.17, SD = 20.84) and mild patient burnout (M = 36.88, SD = 20.28). While professional burnout increased due to the impact of COVID-19, most respondents reported that their burnout started prior to the onset of the pandemic. Personal and work burnout levels were higher in women. Younger, early-career clinicians were more likely to experience greater levels of personal, work, and patient burnout. Burnout levels did not differ by subspecialty.

Conclusions: A need exists to continue monitoring burnout levels and implementing strategies to reduce burnout and optimize patient care post-pandemic.