The association between alexithymia and job burnout in nurses: A systematic review

Alexithymia, as a deficit in emotional processing, may be associated with increased vulnerability to burnout. This systematic review examines the association between alexithymia and job burnout among nurses. Following PRISMA guidelines and the PICO framework, a comprehensive search was conducted across international databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest) and Iranian databases (SID, Magiran, IRANDOC, Civilica), up to May 31, 2026. After duplicate removal, screening, and quality assessment using the JBI checklist for cross-sectional studies, 9 studies were included. Mean alexithymia scores fell within the possible alexithymia range in most studies. Regarding job burnout, the personal accomplishment subscale was low across all studies, whereas levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization varied among studies. All studies reported a significant positive association between alexithymia and job burnout, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.187 to 0.84. In two studies employing univariate regression analysis, 33% of the variance in job burnout was attributable to alexithymia. Studies utilizing multivariate models suggested that, in addition to its direct statistical association, alexithymia was associated with job burnout through mediating variables such as depression, social support, and optimism. One study also found that depersonalization was significantly associated with alexithymia. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the directionality and potential bidirectional nature of these associations.