Well-being, burnout, and professional fulfillment among neuropsychologists and trainees in neuropsychology: Factors that contribute and recommendations for improvement
<b>Objective:</b> The importance of well-being, including burnout and professional fulfillment, in the workplace is increasingly recognized. However, experiences of burnout and fulfillment, and the factors that support or detract from well-being for neuropsychologists, specifically, are poorly understood. The current study aims to fill this gap by exploring experiences of well-being among neuropsychologists and trainees in neuropsychology in order to provide empirically supported strategies to improve well-being in the field of neuropsychology. <b>Method:</b> Trainees in neuropsychology (<i>N</i> = 109) and practicing neuropsychologists (<i>N</i> = 373) were recruited to complete surveys through professional listservs examining their levels of burnout and professional fulfillment. Surveys also examined the factors that positively and negatively contribute to their sense of well-being and the strategies they use to support their well-being at work. <b>Results:</b> Trainees in neuropsychology and early career neuropsychologists reported high levels of burnout and low levels of fulfillment. Pediatric providers and those in an academic medical or VA setting also reported higher levels of burnout. Autonomy, flexibility, and workplace culture emerged as important contributors to well-being upon examination of both quantitative and qualitative responses. <b>Conclusions:</b> Findings suggest that neuropsychologists, and trainees in particular, are at risk for challenges related to well-being, for which increased resources are recommended.
Authors
- Beatriz MacDonald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4360-6531)
- Gretchen Berrios-Siervo
- Thea L. Quinton
- Carolyn Anderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4180-7161)
- Monique Wilson
- Danielle N. Shapiro
Institutions
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
- Michigan Medicine (US)
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System (US)
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- University of Colorado Denver (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Clinical Neuropsychologist
- Published
- 2025-05-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2025.2499610
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 8.45