Risk and Protective Factors for Burnout Among Psychologists and Neuropsychologists: A Scoping Review

Health care professions are emotionally demanding, requiring special skills in caring and empathy. In the health care field, many professions have been linked to burnout, notably through compassion fatigue. Several studies have attempted to determine what factors influence burnout among health care workers in general; however, few have focused exclusively on psychologists (PSYs) and neuropsychologists (NPSYs). This scoping review aims to better understand the determinants of burnout among PSYs and NPSYs specifically. It also aims to identify which factors allow PSYs and NPSYs to adapt and thrive at work despite the difficulties those professions bring. This research focused on burnout, job satisfaction, and well-being at work. Among the most notable results obtained from 27 scientific studies are as follows: (a) PSYs and NPSYs are generally very satisfied at work despite high burnout rates; (b) individual factors and the work environment impact the mental health of PSYs and NPSYs; (c) self-care behaviors are favorable for job satisfaction, and they also decrease the risk of burnout. In addition, it appears that a feeling of autonomy has an important influence on burnout symptoms, which is consistent with self-determination theory. In sum, this scoping review reveals that factors such as self-compassion, work-life balance, control over work, and administrative tasks can reduce the risk of burnout as well as improve job satisfaction and mental health among PSYs and NPSYs.