Exploring the doodle toolkit for burnout intervention among grassroots employees in one Chinese state-owned enterprise

Burnout significantly impacts employee well-being and organisational efficiency, particularly in high-intensity and rigid environments such as Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This study examined a novel intervention that combined cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and doodle theory to mitigate burnout among grassroots employees in Chinese SOEs. Over two years, the Happy Doodle Toolkit (HDT) was developed through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and co-design methods. A four-week field experiment involving 38 participants measured outcomes using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–General Survey and collected 152 doodle diaries. Mean scores demonstrated significant improvements in burnout inventory measures, including emotional exhaustion (ΔM = −0.38), cynicism (ΔM = −0.25), and professional efficacy (ΔM = +0.27), all p < 0.001. Notably, younger employees (≤35 years) exhibited more substantial improvements, with cynicism declining more steeply than in older employees, as confirmed by a significant interaction between measurement time and age group (F = 5.759, p = 0.022). Qualitative data revealed enhanced emotional expression, cognitive reframing, and more positive work attitudes, aligning with the quantitative improvements. This study offers insights into the effectiveness of combining CBT and doodling as an intervention to reduce burnout. It provides new perspectives on enhancing mental health and job satisfaction among SOE employees and underscores the potential for personalised, cost-effective interventions in organisational settings.