The association between alexithymia and job burnout in nurses: A systematic review.
Masoumeh Bagheri-Nesami, Fatemeh Ahmadi
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined the association between alexithymia and job burnout in nurses. Following searches of international and Iranian databases through May 31, 2026, nine studies were included and assessed using a checklist for cross-sectional studies. All studies reported a significant positive association between alexithymia and burnout, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.187 to 0.84. In two studies using univariate regression, alexithymia accounted for 33% of the variance in burnout. Multivariate analyses also linked burnout with alexithymia through factors including depression, social support, and optimism.
Key findings
- All nine included studies reported a significant positive association between alexithymia and job burnout; correlations ranged from 0.187 to 0.84.
- In two studies using univariate regression, 33% of the variance in job burnout was attributable to alexithymia.
- Multivariate models linked alexithymia with burnout through mediating variables including depression, social support, and optimism.
- Personal accomplishment scores were low across all studies, while emotional exhaustion and depersonalization varied.
Why it matters
The consistent association across the included studies suggests that difficulties in emotional processing may be relevant to understanding burnout in nurses. The reported links with depression, social support, and optimism also indicate that the relationship may involve other psychological and social factors. These findings can inform research and assessment, but do not establish whether alexithymia precedes burnout or results from it.
What to keep in mind
The evidence came from nine studies assessed as cross-sectional, limiting conclusions about directionality or causation. The review itself calls for longitudinal studies.