The concept of burnout isn't a recent invention; we've just started using a specific term for it.
In the realm of occupational health and psychology, burnout has evolved from an informal, colloquial term to a well-defined clinical and psychological concept. This transformation reflects increased scientific attention to workplace factors impacting mental health.
The term "burnout" was first recorded around 1900–1905, but it wasn't until the late 20th century that it was applied clinically, primarily in the context of occupational health psychology (OHP) research. Early occupational psychology and sociology studies in the mid-20th century, such as those by Trist and Bamforth, Kornhauser, and Gardell, documented work-related stress and its harmful effects on mental health, prefiguring our modern understanding of burnout.
One of the most significant milestones in the formal study of burnout was the development of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) by Christina Maslach. The MBI characterizes burnout as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (cynicism toward work), and reduced personal accomplishment.
The phenomenon of burnout existed conceptually before it was clinically defined, emerging most clearly as industrial and occupational changes highlighted chronic work stress. Graham Greene's novel A Burnt-Out Case (1961) metaphorically captured the sense of emotional/spiritual exhaustion akin to burnout, though not explicitly relating to occupational psychology.
The clinical definition involving measurable psychological dimensions emerged with instruments like the MBI in the late 20th century. History shows that burnout is a recurring signal, but we now have better tools, data, and awareness to address it than ever before. The World Health Organization recognized burnout in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019.
Burnout is not just about long hours; it is more closely tied to mismatches between values and work, effort and recognition, and what one gives and receives. Lack of autonomy, chronic stress without relief, poor leadership or workplace culture, and feeling undervalued or isolated are factors that contribute to burnout and require systemic change.
Notable figures in the field include Dr. Sunil Kumar, a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Executive Health Coach, and Burnout Reset Expert, who is the creator of the PREPTM Protocol. Dr. Freudenberger first formally introduced the term "burnout" in 1974, describing it as "burning out," like a candle that had been lit too long.
The Covid-19 pandemic brought burnout to a boil, affecting a large number of employees globally. A 2021 McKinsey report found that over a third of employees globally were experiencing burnout symptoms, with a particularly severe impact on women and caregivers.
Leaders, clinicians, educators, and humans have a responsibility to create environments where people can thrive, not just survive. This starts with listening to the signals in ourselves and in the systems we shape. Trauma-informed care, leadership training, lifestyle medicine, and evidence-based well-being strategies are among the pathways forward to address burnout.
Burnout is not a personal failure, but often a rational response to an unsustainable situation. It has been a part of the human experience for centuries, with ancient Greek physicians like Hippocrates speaking of "melancholia," a state of deep sadness and fatigue. During the Middle Ages, monks described a similar state called "acedia," a mix of apathy, exhaustion, and meaninglessness. American neurologist George Beard coined the term "neurasthenia" in the late 1800s to describe symptoms such as exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, and a loss of motivation.
In conclusion, burnout has evolved from a colloquial term to a well-defined clinical and psychological concept over time. The formal study of work-related psychological stress and its harmful effects developed significantly during and after the Industrial Revolution, with early occupational psychology and sociology studies documenting work-related stress and mental health impacts that prefigure modern burnout understanding. The clinical definition involving measurable psychological dimensions emerged with instruments like the MBI in the late 20th century. Today, we have better tools, data, and awareness to address burnout than ever before.
- Dr. Sunil Kumar, a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Executive Health Coach, and Burnout Reset Expert, has contributed significantly to the field with the creation of the PREPTM Protocol.
- Mental health in the workplace has been a growing area of scientific attention, with studies showcasing that a lack of autonomy, chronic stress without relief, poor leadership or workplace culture, and feeling undervalued or isolated are factors that contribute to burnout.
- While burnout is not a new phenomenon, with origins dating back to ancient Greek physicians like Hippocrates, the clinical definition involving measurable psychological dimensions emerged with instruments like the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in the late 20th century.
