Occupational burnout is used to describe working individuals who feel emotionally exhausted, have developed negative perceptions about the people they work with and their work environment, experience detachment from their surroundings, and feel reduced accomplishment at work (Bährer-Kohler, 2013; Maslach, 1993). This qualitative research aims to understand the factors that have helped, hindered, or were wished for by adults who have suffered from moderate to severe occupational burnout and feel that they have since recovered in the past three years.
Using the Enhanced Critical Incident technique, preliminary analysis of semi-structured interviews with participants (n = 12) yielded data to categorize incidents which are helpful, hindering, or wished for but unattained in the recovery from occupational burnout. All participants were first screened for retrospectively moderate to high occupational burnout symptoms using in the Maslach Burnout Inventory- General Survey (MBI-GS; Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996). While data collection is ongoing, this analysis has already generated defined categories with high participation rates. In the helping category, social support, de-stigmatization of occupational burnout, and empowerment have contributed to recovering from burnout symptoms. A lack of time away from the workplace hindered recovery. Participants wished for increased financial support and professional help to aid recovery.