Perfectionism as a Predictor of Physician Burnout

Abstract Burnout is common among physicians and has detrimental effects on patient care and physician health. Recent editorials call attention to maladaptive perfectionism in medicine and the potential role of perfectionism in physician burnout; however, no studies to date have examined the effect of perfectionism on burnout in physicians practicing in the United States. This study examined the unique effects of demographics, perfectionism and personality traits on burnout among physicians. This was a cross-sectional study and included 69 attending physicians. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment burnout were assessed via the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Validated instruments were used to measure personality and perfectionism. Data were analyzed using linear regression models. Across physicians assessed, 42% reported either high emotional exhaustion burnout or depersonalization burnout. High self-critical perfectionism uniquely predicted both high emotional exhaustion burnout ( B = 0.55, 95%CI 0.25–0.85) and depersonalization burnout ( B = 0.18, 95%CI 0.05–0.31). Low conscientiousness ( B = -6.12; 95%CI, -10.95- -1.28) predicted higher emotional exhaustion burnout and low agreeableness ( B = -3.20, 95%CI -5.93- -0.46) predicted higher depersonalization burnout. Perfectionism is understudied among physicians and the current findings suggest that addressing system and individual-level factors that encourage maladaptive perfectionism is warranted and may reduce risk for physician burnout.