Self-compassion as a protective factor against burnout in psychologists.

Abstract

Demand for psychological services in Australia is high, placing psychologists under considerable pressure. Although stress and burnout are common in this group, research has rarely applied theoretical frameworks to examine individual risk and protective factors. This study was therefore guided by the conservation of resources theory and the job demands–resources model. It explored links between perfectionistic concerns, burnout, and mental well-being among registered Australian psychologists, with a focus on the mediating role of self-compassion. Participants were recruited online through professional associations, social media, and direct email to 96 clinics. The final sample comprised 148 psychologists (126 women, 21 men, and one nonbinary; Mage = 42.9, SD = 12.9) who completed an anonymous online survey assessing perfectionism, burnout, mental well-being, and self-compassion. Results showed that 27% of participants met criteria for burnout and 25% reported low mental well-being. Regression analyses indicated that both perfectionistic concerns and self-compassion made significant, independent contributions to burnout. Self-compassion also partially mediated the negative impact of perfectionistic concerns on burnout. These findings suggest that perfectionistic concerns are an important contributor to burnout and that self-compassion may serve as a protective resource, reducing the effects of perfectionistic concerns and promoting well-being in psychologists. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)