IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v72y2026i1p160-171.html

The impact of age on burnout and secondary traumatic stress: Examining the moderating roles of detachment and work hours among mental health professionals serving war refugees in Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Momina Khalid Butt
  • Neringa GrigutytÄ—
  • AdelÄ— PetraviciutÄ—
  • Jonas Eimontas

Abstract

Background: With ongoing conflicts worldwide, the refugee crisis has escalated into a global humanitarian crisis, straining mental health professionals supporting war refugees. Growing demands and the emotional toll of witnessing trauma of the survivors of war highlight the need for research to better equip these professionals. Aims: This study examines influence of age on burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among 103 mental health professionals working with war refugees in Pakistan, focusing on the moderating roles of detachment and work hours. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 103 mental health professionals completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Experiences Questionnaire, and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. Regression, moderation, and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS PROCESS macro. Results: Increased work hours intensified the burnout–STS relationship, while detachment served as a protective factor by moderating this relationship rather than directly predicting STS. Additionally, burnout mediated the relationship between age and STS, with older professionals reporting lower burnout and, in turn, lower STS symptoms. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of addressing burnout in efforts to reduce STS among refugee-serving professionals and suggest that fostering detachment and managing work hours may provide protective benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Momina Khalid Butt & Neringa GrigutytÄ— & AdelÄ— PetraviciutÄ— & Jonas Eimontas, 2026. "The impact of age on burnout and secondary traumatic stress: Examining the moderating roles of detachment and work hours among mental health professionals serving war refugees in Pakistan," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 72(1), pages 160-171, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:1:p:160-171
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640251355840
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00207640251355840
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/00207640251355840?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yasuhiro Kotera & Robert Maxwell-Jones & Ann-Marie Edwards & Natalie Knutton, 2021. "Burnout in Professional Psychotherapists: Relationships with Self-Compassion, Work–Life Balance, and Telepressure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Bianca Mendes & Isabel Miguel, 2024. "Age and Burnout: The Mediating Role of Emotion-Regulation Strategies," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eva O. L. Lantsoght, 2025. "Improving Work–Life Balance in Academia After COVID-19 Using Inclusive Practices," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Emanuel Missias Silva Palma & Anderson Reis de Sousa & Jules Ramon Brito Teixeira & Wanderson Carneiro Moreira & Ana Caroline Monteiro de Araújo & Luiz Filipe Vieira Souza & Júlio Cézar Ramos dos Anjo, 2022. "Influence of Sociodemographic and Emotional Factors on the Relationship between Self-Compassion and Perceived Stress among Men Residing in Brazil during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Annabel Rushforth & Mia Durk & Gabby A. A. Rothwell-Blake & Ann Kirkman & Fiona Ng & Yasuhiro Kotera, 2023. "Self-Compassion Interventions to Target Secondary Traumatic Stress in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Mathieu Le Moal & Roy Thurik & Olivier Torrès & Guillaume Soenen, 2026. "Mental health of entrepreneurs and daily recovery experiences," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 27-48, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:1:p:160-171. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.