Freudenberger (1974) initially defined "burnout" as wearing out, failing, or becoming
exhausted due to demanding energy and resources. The World Health Organization's (2019) and
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (11th ed., ICD-
11) does not classify burnout as an illness; it is a syndrome caused by chronic workplace stress
and unmanaged mental pressure. It is conceptualized in three dimensions: energy depletion or
emotional exhaustion, feelings of cynicism toward the job, and decreased professional efficacy.
Similarly, the American Psychiatric Association's (2013) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (5th ed., DSM-5) also does not consider burnout a distinct mental disorder.
Burnout is a psychological syndrome that arises from interpersonal workplace stress. It is a
syndrome of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in individuals who work with ordinary people.
Emotional exhaustion consists of a lack of energy, fatigue, emotional depletion, and debilitation.
Cynicism includes feelings of depersonalization, irritability, and withdrawal. Exhaustion refers to
the most commonly reported component of the syndrome and the primary criterion of varied
models (Maslach & Leiter, 2017).
Literature Review
Angelika and Rzeszutek (2022) critically performed a systematic review using the
PRISMA framework. Thirty-eight studies examined burnout among psychotherapists, while the
other 14 studied psychological well-being in this sample. Burnout and well-being among
psychotherapists are related to sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender), intrapersonal (e.g., coping,
personality), and work-related characteristics, including work settings and professional support
in this profession (e.g., supervision or personal therapy).
McCormack et al. (2018) reviewed quantitative and qualitative studies to examine the
prevalence and causes of burnout among applied psychologists. Results indicate that emotional
exhaustion was the most cited dimension of burnout. Workload and work settings were the most
contributing factors to burnout. The study concluded that burnout was a concerning factor for all
psychological interventions.
Vredenburgh et al. (2007) measured the extent of burnout in 521 counseling
psychologists in private and hospital practice. MBI was administered. Multiple regression
analyses computed that levels of burnout were highest in a hospital setting compared to private
practice. Further, hours of client contact per week were directly related to a sense of
achievement. It was also concluded that males experience more depersonalization than females.
Research Significance
The findings of this study will aid in formulating informal policies about the mental
health of clinical psychologists in the Pakistani context. The government can take preventive
measures to guard clinical psychologists, which have potential applicability for mental health
practitioners and researchers.
Research Objectives
The research study aims to explore the lived experiences of burnout among clinical
psychologists and identify the coping strategies used by these clinical psychologists in Pakistan.
Research Questions
1. What are lived experiences of burnout among clinical psychologist in Pakistan?
2. What are the copying strategies used by clinical psychologists in Pakistan?
Methodology
Research Design
The study will use qualitative research method with an interpretative phenomenological
approach (IPA). It aims to explore the lived experiences of burnout and copying strategies used
by Pakistani clinical psychologists.
Sampling Strategy
Purposive sampling strategy will be used for data collection. The participants will be
recruited by consulting private clinical centers to find the best-suited sample. The selected
psychologists from varied clinics will be contacted for interviews if their preliminary information
aligned with the study objectives. A sample of six with ages ranging from 28 years and onward
will be selected through this sampling technique. Morse (1994) guided the use of six sample size
for IPA.
Inclusion Criteria
Clinical psychologists with at least an MS degree and two years of working experience
will be included. They will be selected for different private institutes.
Exclusion Criteria
Clinical psychologists who have no experience and are not practicing will be excluded.
Data Collection
The preliminary information of participants will be collected through a demographic
form, and then an interview guide will be used to address research questions.
Demographic Form
This section will hold information regarding qualifications, relevant experience,
practicing institutes, working domains, and impairment etc.
Statistical Analysis
Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) will be used to identify the themes related
to burnout experiences and coping strategies used by clinical psychologists in Pakistan.
Ethical Considerations
1. Approval to conduct this research will be sought from Institutional Research Board and
Ethical Review Committee of the concerned Department.
2. Permission will be obtained from the concerned clinical institutes to for data collection.
3. Informed consent will be taken from all participants.
4. Confidentiality of the data of all the participants will be ensured.
5. The participants will be provided debriefing following the study.
6. Participants will be allowed to leave the study at any stage if unwilling to continue.
References
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Angelika, V., & Rzeszutek, M. (2022). Burnout and Psychological Wellbeing Among
Psychotherapists: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.
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Kim, H., Ji, J., & Kao, D. (2011) ‘Burnout and Physical Health among Social Workers: A Three-
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Lent, J., & Schwartz, R. C. (2012). The impact of work setting, demographic characteristics, and
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Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. (1981). The Measurement of Experienced Burnout. Journal of
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Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2017). Understanding burnout: New models. In C. L. Cooper & J.
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