2025-09-08
Burnout: The hidden mechanisms of a very real ailment
Occupational Medicine
By Lila Rouland | Published September 8, 2025 | 2 min read
#burnout #mentalhealth #publichealth
The study proposes a new systemic approach to understanding the causes of burnout, moving beyond individual factors. Using causal loop diagram (CLD) modeling, the authors brought together eight workplace mental health experts to map the dynamic interactions between living conditions, working conditions, and societal developments. The goal: to better visualize the network of interconnected causes fueling the high prevalence of burnout in the Netherlands.
Between October 2022 and January 2023, eight workplace mental health experts gathered for an unprecedented project: mapping the inner workings of burnout. Through three collaborative workshops (Group Model Building), they identified, debated, and then connected the major causes of professional exhaustion. The result: a causal loop diagram (CLD) combining 20 key factors, including 10 related to work, 4 to personal life, and 6 to societal pressures.
At the heart of this model, five systemic loops were highlighted:
This framework offers a new lens: burnout is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic imbalance, where interactions between professional, personal, and social spheres build up… sometimes to the point of collapse.
1. Functional support from managers
Adequate support helps clarify tasks, increase autonomy, and improve the work climate. This reduces mental load and fosters resilience against emotional demands.
2. Collaborative culture
Support from colleagues, encouraged by managers, lowers the pressure linked to emotionally demanding situations. This virtuous circle helps limit burnout cases.
3. The peripheral but significant role of societal factors
Although less directly integrated into the loops, societal factors (e.g., cost of living, limited access to mental health care, harsher social climate) indirectly affect critical factors such as workload or financial stress. They modulate the speed and intensity of the identified loops.
The study shows that interventions targeting only the individual (e.g., personal stress management) are insufficient. Action must also be taken at organizational and systemic levels. Future research could integrate sector-specific data, include employees’ perspectives, and develop quantitative dynamic models to simulate the impact of interventions at different levels.
This work highlights the complexity of burnout and the need to adopt an interconnected view of its causes. It provides a solid foundation for rethinking prevention strategies by simultaneously considering living conditions, working conditions, and the societal environment.
Applying a systemic perspective means accepting that burnout is not just an individual failure, but the symptom of an unbalanced system in urgent need of adjustment.
About the author – Lila Rouland
With dual expertise in science and marketing, Lila brings her knowledge to the service of healthcare innovation. After five years in international academic research, she transitioned into medical and scientific communication within the pharmaceutical industry. Now working as a medical writer and content developer, she is committed to highlighting scientific knowledge and conveying it to healthcare professionals with clarity and relevance.
#burnout #mentalhealth #publichealth
The study proposes a new systemic approach to understanding the causes of burnout, moving beyond individual factors. Using causal loop diagram (CLD) modeling, the authors brought together eight workplace mental health experts to map the dynamic interactions between living conditions, working conditions, and societal developments. The goal: to better visualize the network of interconnected causes fueling the high prevalence of burnout in the Netherlands.
Burnout: Behind the scenes of a revealing model
Between October 2022 and January 2023, eight workplace mental health experts gathered for an unprecedented project: mapping the inner workings of burnout. Through three collaborative workshops (Group Model Building), they identified, debated, and then connected the major causes of professional exhaustion. The result: a causal loop diagram (CLD) combining 20 key factors, including 10 related to work, 4 to personal life, and 6 to societal pressures.
At the heart of this model, five systemic loops were highlighted:
- Three reinforcing loops that fuel the burnout spiral
- Two balancing loops that can, on the contrary, slow its progression
This framework offers a new lens: burnout is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic imbalance, where interactions between professional, personal, and social spheres build up… sometimes to the point of collapse.
Burnout, a runaway machine: three loops that fuel it
1. A very high workload
An excessive workload increases the risk of burnout. As employees take sick leave, the burden falls on colleagues, creating a self-reinforcing overload loop.
2. Work–life imbalance
Work encroaching on personal life or family responsibilities interfering with work (e.g., caregivers) worsen chronic fatigue. This dual imbalance feeds a spiral leading to exhaustion.
3. Lack of recovery time
The absence of breaks, rest areas, and clear rules on recovery time reduces employees’ resilience. Less recovery → more exhaustion → deterioration of organizational culture → weaker managerial support → worsening burnout.
2. Work–life imbalance
Work encroaching on personal life or family responsibilities interfering with work (e.g., caregivers) worsen chronic fatigue. This dual imbalance feeds a spiral leading to exhaustion.
3. Lack of recovery time
The absence of breaks, rest areas, and clear rules on recovery time reduces employees’ resilience. Less recovery → more exhaustion → deterioration of organizational culture → weaker managerial support → worsening burnout.
What can slow down the burnout spiral
1. Functional support from managers
Adequate support helps clarify tasks, increase autonomy, and improve the work climate. This reduces mental load and fosters resilience against emotional demands.
2. Collaborative culture
Support from colleagues, encouraged by managers, lowers the pressure linked to emotionally demanding situations. This virtuous circle helps limit burnout cases.
3. The peripheral but significant role of societal factors
Although less directly integrated into the loops, societal factors (e.g., cost of living, limited access to mental health care, harsher social climate) indirectly affect critical factors such as workload or financial stress. They modulate the speed and intensity of the identified loops.
Practical implications and future research
The study shows that interventions targeting only the individual (e.g., personal stress management) are insufficient. Action must also be taken at organizational and systemic levels. Future research could integrate sector-specific data, include employees’ perspectives, and develop quantitative dynamic models to simulate the impact of interventions at different levels.
Conclusion: A systemic approach is essential for effective action
This work highlights the complexity of burnout and the need to adopt an interconnected view of its causes. It provides a solid foundation for rethinking prevention strategies by simultaneously considering living conditions, working conditions, and the societal environment.
Applying a systemic perspective means accepting that burnout is not just an individual failure, but the symptom of an unbalanced system in urgent need of adjustment.
Read next: At work, alone or together?
About the author – Lila Rouland
Doctor of Oncology, specialized in Biotechnology and Management
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