Burnout among staff on specialized eating disorder units in Norway

Burnout is commonly associated with low workplace wellbeing. Patients with eating disorders are frequently referred to as a particularly challenging group to treat. It is therefore important to study healthcare providers´ workplace wellbeing in settings which treat eating disorders. The aims of the current study were to (a) measure burnout among healthcare providers working on specialized eating disorder units in Norway, and (b) explore factors predicting burnout.

186 participants from 11 specialized eating disorder units in Norway completed an online survey including the Mashlach Burnout Inventory, and eating disorder-specific factors related to burnout, job satisfaction, work environment, emotional dissonance and stress. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of burnout.

Overall, low levels of burnout were found among the participants. Eating disorder-specific factors and emotional dissonance predicted the three central aspects of burnout, namely, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment.

Findings suggest a relatively low level of burnout across age, gender, and professional categories working at specialized eating disorder units, contrary to commonly-held assumptions pertaining to the challenges involved in treating individuals with eating disorders.