Burning questions in burnout research

Abstract

Despite the fact that burnout has been around for almost half a century, various topics are still hotly debated. Although over one million publications appeared on the subject, scholars still do not agree about many issues. This chapter discusses these issues and attempts to take stock by answering six burning questions: (1) What is the nature of burnout?; (2) Is burnout also a medical diagnosis?; (3) How can burnout be assessed?; (4) Is there a burnout pandemic?; (5) Is burnout rooted in the person and the body?; and (6) Are burnout interventions successful? Not surprisingly, these questions can only be answered preliminary. However, directions for future research are proposed to overcome the paradox between the countless number of burnout publications on the one hand and the piecemeal and incomplete knowledge on the other. Overall, the chapter contributes to the ongoing debate on the nature of burnout by placing it on an empirical footing.