Burnout and Whole Health

Abstract

Background: Whole health, a holistic approach to healthcare, emphasizes overall well-being, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects, as described in The Passport to Whole Health. The Passport to Whole Health is a VA guide that emphasizes a more personalized, patient-centered model of healthcare. Research students took their own Personal Health Inventory Survey, a self-assessment tool to identify how they want to prioritize their health goals, and each picked a topic regarding whole health. They conducted further research to develop a comprehensive survey that more effectively evaluated aspects of whole health. This specific follow-up research, based on the survey results, focused on the effects of burnout on mental health, a significant factor in overall health. 

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate key aspects of whole health that significantly impact one’s overall health across a diverse subject pool. 

Methods: A comprehensive survey was designed, informed by published research articles and the Passport to Whole Health. The survey included 38 questions, with 4-6 questions reflecting categories of whole health, and was sent to contacts worldwide. Feedback from participants informed improvements, and the final survey was distributed, yielding 167 responses. Data from the survey was then analyzed in RStudio using statistical programming to perform chi-square analysis tests. This research explored the correlation between burnout and emotional baseline. 

Conclusions: The null hypothesis stated that there would be no significant association between certain whole health practices and experiencing burnout. After running a chi-square test to find

the correlation between these factors, they obtained a p-value of 0.002, indicating a statistically significant correlation and rejecting the null hypothesis. This study will assist healthcare providers and individuals in better understanding health holistically. By addressing the different aspects of health, effective interventions can be implemented, and healthier lifestyles will be promoted. 

Introduction

 Whole health is a comprehensive approach to well-being that seeks to provide proactive, personalized care tailored to the specific needs of individuals. This approach acknowledges the significance of considering all aspects of a person’s life that can impact their overall health, encompassing emotional, physical, social, and environmental factors. At the core of whole health is the Circle of Health. This concept stresses placing the individual at the “center,” surrounded by life domains like physical, emotional, spiritual, and social health, to help promote self-care and personalized health plans beyond just treating illness. The Circle of Health not only encourages individuals to take a holistic view of their well-being but also empowers them to make informed decisions that positively change their lives. 

The main focus in this area is on understanding the profound impact of burnout on an individual’s whole health and in finding effective methods for education, intervention, and support. Burnout, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a syndrome resulting from chronic stress that has not been successfully managed. It typically manifests in three key dimensions: feelings of exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, and depersonalization. Those most vulnerable to burnout are often individuals in high-stress, high-demand occupations that require substantial emotional, mental, and physical engagement. Over time, burnout can lead to significant physical health problems, such as cardiovascular issues, weakened immune

function, and chronic fatigue. Additionally, it can have severe psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, and a sense of hopelessness, which worsen the effects of burnout. This research seeks to explore the potential relationship between burnout and interventions such as gratitude practices, self-affirmations, and other whole health practices. By investigating the connection between these preventive strategies and burnout alleviation, the goal is to inform future efforts to promote well-being and develop more effective interventions. Specifically, this research will explore whether practices such as intentional exercise, daily gratitude, and self-affirmations can help reduce the effects of burnout, to inform more personalized, evidence-based solutions. 

As part of this investigation, an implementation project was developed, which includes a series of podcasts designed to educate and engage individuals on the topics of whole health and burnout. The project is divided into two main components: one focusing on the core principles of whole health and the other examining the various aspects of burnout, its effects, and ways to address it. This research hypothesizes that there will be a positive association between engagement in specific whole health practices, such as intentional exercise, gratitude practices, and self-affirmations, and a reduction in the experience of burnout. By conducting this research and sharing the findings through educational platforms such as podcasts, the hope is to contribute valuable insights that can help individuals better manage stress and improve their overall well-being. 

The objective of this project is to bring greater awareness to the importance of mental, emotional, and physical health practices in preventing and mitigating burnout. The aim is to develop practical recommendations and tools that can be used in everyday life to promote a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

Methods

The research team on this project explored various aspects of whole health, including sleep, meditation, eating habits, social interactions, mental health, and more. The initial approach involved reviewing existing scholarly literature on these topics and taking detailed notes for key insights. The research team then held group discussions to assess their findings and identify research gaps. Based on these discussions, they selected questions to advance the knowledge they had already gathered from the articles

Next, they designed a comprehensive survey that drew on both published research and the Passport to Whole Health framework. The survey contained 38 questions, with 4-6 questions dedicated to each category of whole health. They distributed the survey to a small group of contacts across the country, including coworkers, family members, and friends. In response, participants provided valuable feedback and suggested areas for improvement in the survey design. This feedback was necessary to refine the questions and ensure they would yield meaningful, actionable data. 

After incorporating the feedback and making necessary adjustments, they distributed the revised survey to a wide range of people, different from the initial group of contacts, and it received 167 completed responses. To analyze the data, they utilized RStudio, a statistical programming tool, where one researcher specifically focused on performing chi-square analyses to examine correlations between burnout and emotional baselines, as focused on in this part of the project. Other questions from this survey were analyzed qualitatively. This analysis allowed them to understand the relationships within the data better and draw meaningful conclusions about the impact of emotional well-being on overall health.

Results

Figure 1: Burnout Prevalence (Below) 

91% of respondents reported experiencing burnout, and 32% said they did not attempt to relieve its symptoms.

Figure 2: Chi-Squared Tests (Below):

The survey compared the relationships between various factors—such as age, exercise, and self-care practices—and levels of burnout, using chi-square and correlation tests to assess their associations. Each of these correlation tests had a p-value less than 0.001, indicating statistical significance.

Figure 3: Paired T-Test (Below)

Output value of p < 2.2e-16 between those who have experienced burnout and those who attempted to manage the symptoms of burnout.

Discussion/Conclusion

The analysis revealed significant disparities between individuals who experienced burnout (91% of participants) and those who attempted to manage its symptoms (32% of participants). These findings highlight the widespread prevalence of burnout among the study population and reveal a gap in the implementation of effective coping strategies. It is important to note that the skew in the survey results can be due to the predominantly student-based demographic, which may not fully represent the broader population experiencing burnout in various professional settings. 

This study further investigates the correlation between burnout and commonly recommended preventive measures, such as intentional exercise and the practice of self-affirmations. The chi-squared tests yielded a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.05, which suggests a meaningful association between these preventive factors and reduced burnout experienced. The high X-squared values in the chi-squared tests indicate that the observed data deviate significantly from the expected. This further strengthened the correlation. These findings suggest the potential for more focused interventions and strategies to address burnout. This can be particularly helpful in populations where burnout is more prevalent. 

Given the strong results of this analysis, future research directions include expanding the study's scope to include a more diverse sample. This would incorporate individuals from various age groups, professional backgrounds, and demographic characteristics. This broader inclusion will help provide a more detailed understanding of the factors that contribute to burnout and will enable us to create interventions more effectively for diverse groups. By leveraging these insights, the aim is to contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies designed to promote mental well-being, enhance coping mechanisms, and combat the growing issue of burnout across various fields. Ultimately, this research can play a pivotal role in shaping the way we approach mental health interventions in academic and professional settings. 

References

T. Poovathingal, L. Rodriguez, N. Parekh, University of Michigan UROP, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Burnout and Whole Health, UMURJ 

R. Rindfleisch. (2020). Passport to Whole Health Version 5