Activist Burnout Among Climate Justice Activists in Austria: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Background/Objectives: Research shows that engaging in system-critical activism can be associated with negative mental health outcomes. This exploratory, idiographic, qualitative study seeks to develop an understanding of the experience of activist burnout among climate justice activists. It aims to answer the following research question: How do climate justice activists make sense of their activist burnout? Methods: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was conducted using interviews with five participants (n = 5) who are part of climate justice movements in Austria. Results: Three themes were constructed: (1) "The earth is burning"-describing the sense of urgency and pressure experienced by participants; (2) "Relationships with activism, other activists, and the outside world"-describing the ways in which activism colors the participants' relationship with themselves and others; and (3) "Burning out"-describing the experience of activist burnout at its most acute point. Discussion and Implications: A picture of activist burnout emerges that is characterized by a sense of existential crisis and lack of alternatives; activist work becomes all-consuming and the individual may become isolated. Eventually, activist work evokes stress and cynicism in the individual and may culminate in a breaking point. In many ways, this picture of activist burnout bears similarity to burnout among the helping professions. Implications and recommendations for activists, organizers, and researchers are given.