Chronic stress in relation to clinical burnout: an integrative scoping review of definitions and measurement approaches.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Since its introduction, the definition and diagnosis of burnout remain controversial. Although the literature distinguishes between severe clinical burnout, characterized by debilitating symptoms and prolonged recovery, and milder burnout complaints in generally healthy employees, unclear diagnostic criteria hinder reliable differentiation. As clinical burnout is often framed as an outcome of chronic stress, clarifying how chronic stress is defined and measured is crucial to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and distinction of clinical burnout.

Objective

This scoping review synthesizes results from systematic reviews using an integrative approach. It examines how chronic stress is defined and measured, from psychosocial, biological, and biopsychosocial perspec

SUBMITTER: Vandenabeele R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12740940 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature