Antecedents, correlates, and consequences of burnout in social workers in mental health services: A mixed-studies systematic review

Social work is a demanding profession. This is particularly evident in mental health services, where roles are challenging and practitioners are frequently exposed to trauma. (Lloyd et al 2002; Allen 2014; Bark et al 2023) In these settings, social workers may also experience a lack of professional identity, arising from feeling unclear, undervalued, or misunderstood in relation to who they are as professionals and what their unique contribution entails. This lack of recognition can be compounded by limited visibility in workforce planning and service design, further constraining their ability to apply the distinct values and practices of the profession (Bark 2023) . It is unsurprising that mental health social workers are at risk of mental health concerns themselves. One such problem that appears to be highly prevalent amongst this group is burnout. However, it is currently unclear which factors are significant in the development of burnout in this population. Moreover, there is limited understanding of the association and consequences of burnout for mental health social workers. Consequently, the aim of the study is to provide a systematic review of the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of burnout for mental health social workers. In doing so, the review will be as comprehensive as possible and adopt a mixed-studies approach – examining both qualitative and quantitative studies.