Associations between individual and social stigma perception and burnout levels in Italian mental health nurses: an exploratory study.

This article investigates the associations between individual and social stigma perceptions and burnout levels among Italian mental health nurses. Using an online questionnaire administered in August 2021 to 104 nurses, the study measured stigma perceptions and burnout syndrome across three subdimensions: Emotional Exhaustion (E), Depersonalization (DEP), and Personal Accomplishment (PA), as assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Results indicated significant correlations between higher stigma perceptions—both individual and social—and increased burnout, particularly elevated emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, as well as reduced personal accomplishment. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to reduce stigma in mental health nursing to potentially mitigate burnout and improve professional well-being and patient care.