Associations between individual and social stigma perception and burnout levels in Italian mental health nurses: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND: Mental healthcare professionals, especially nurses, experienced stigma in their working activities. The present study aimed to analyze any relations existed between individual and social stigma and burnout levels in Italian mental health nurses.METHODS: An online questionnaire was administered during August 2021, investigating both individual and social stigma and burnout syndrome, in: Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DEP) and Personal Achievement (PA) subdimensions.RESULTS: A total of 104 Italian mental health nurses were recruited. Participants reported higher levels in DEP (63.5%) and PA (69.2%) subdimensions in burnout syndrome and medium levels in EE subdimension (52.9%). Most participants recorded significant relations in individual and social stigma perceptions and burnout subdimensions.CONCLUSIONS: High individual and social stigma were associated with burnout syndrome. Therefore, decreasing mental disturbances linked to stigma will be a comprehensive concern, and numerous involvements aiming to moderate it will be need.