Burnout among mental healthcare providers in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Mental healthcare providers (MHPs) face high burnout due to emotional demands and workload pressures. In Jordan, limited resources and public stigma may further increase occupational strain, underscoring the need to assess burnout among MHPs. This study aims to assess burnout levels among MHPs in Jordan, compare burnout dimensions across professional groups, and examine associations with demographic and work-related factors.

This cross-sectional study included 221 MHPs in Jordan. Burnout was measured using the Arabic Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which assesses emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Data was collected from February 11 to 25, 2025, through online questionnaires (Google Forms; n = 100) and paper-based surveys (n = 121). Analyses were conducted using SPSS version 29.0. Group differences were examined using t-tests and ANOVA/MANOVA, with Scheffé post-hoc tests as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

The mean scores indicated high EE (19.06 ± 12.26), low DP (6.21 ± 6.90), and moderate PA (31.57 ± 11.61). In total, 42.5% reported high EE, 71.9% low DP, and 48.4% high PA, suggesting lower burnout in this area. MANOVA identified significant effects of age (p = 0.036) and weekly working hours (p = 0.007) on burnout. Follow-up analyses found significant differences in PA by age (p = 0.034) and working hours (p = 0.003). Participants aged 45 or older reported higher PA than younger groups (Scheffé, p < 0.05). Those working 40-49 or 50 or more hours per week reported higher PA than those working 20-29 h per week.

MHPs in Jordan face high EE, low DP, and moderate PA. This necessitates improving organizational support, adequate staffing, managing workloads, regulating overtime, implementing supportive supervision and well-being programs to sustain providers' performance, enhance resilience and coping with work-related stress.