Relationship between Chronic Health Conditions and Occupational Burnout in the Early Care and Education Workforce

Abstract Objective The early care and education (ECE) workforce experiences high rates of poor mental and physical health outcomes which impact staff well-being and burnout. This study aimed to assess the relationship between chronic health conditions and occupational burnout in ECE Head Start staff working in low-resourced locations. Methods This study administered an 89-item cross-sectional survey to 332 ECE staff employed in 42 Head Start centers in the United States. Staff self-reported on 10 chronic health conditions: arthritis, asthma, cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, insomnia, lung disease, and musculoskeletal disorders. Results We found that multimorbidity of chronic conditions significantly predicted overall burnout (B = 2.39, p < .01), particularly related to emotional exhaustion (B = 2.04, p < .01). Conclusions Workplace interventions targeting emotional exhaustion related to chronic health conditions are recommended to effectively address occupational burnout among ECE staff.