The interplay between burnout risk and attachment styles among palliative care practitioners

The psychological features of burnout have been extensively investigated among different healthcare practitioners. However, studies on the relationship between burnout and attachment styles are limited. Furthermore, there is a paucity of evidence on the prevalence of burnout in the field of palliative care. The current study aimed to examine burnout symptoms in a sample of practitioners specialising in palliative care and to investigate the role of attachment styles in these symptoms. A sample of 108 specialist palliative care practitioners participated in this study. The Italian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Attachment Styles Questionnaire (ASQ) were administered to them. The results showed a low burnout risk for emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and lack of personal accomplishment in the sample. However, correlational analysis showed significant associations between MBI and ASQ dimensions. Specifically, confidence in self and others was negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion. Discomfort with closeness, need for approval, and preoccupation with relationships were all positively correlated with emotional exhaustion. The results of regression analyses showed that confidence in attachment relationships was a significant and negative predictor for emotional exhaustion. Also, years of experience positively added to the prediction, suggesting that both attachment styles and work experiences represent specific factors for burnout. Implications for the selection of personnel, implementation of structured interventions, and the supervision of palliative care practitioners are discussed.