Could Practicing Motivational Interviewing Prevent Burnout?

May 1

By Carrie Bader, MPH, MOT, Boost Oregon’s Training Director and Member of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)

Motivational Interviewing (MI), a collaborative, evidence-based approach to conversation, has received a great deal of attention for its efficacy in helping people adopt positive behaviors, including vaccinating themselves and their family. What is less often discussed is how the practice of MI can benefit those on the other side of the conversation - the helping professionals. How might MI affect those who practice it?

A small but growing body of research has found that practitioners who practice MI experience lower levels of burnout and higher levels of well-being. People who embrace and practice MI report a higher sense of personal accomplishment, which is a protective factor against burnout. Why might this be?

One possible explanation is related to outcomes: The traditional approach of telling someone what to do and why to do it simply is not very effective, and people who use this approach are less likely to see progress with their patients. In contrast, the MI approach is associated with greater likelihood of change, so helpers who use this approach are more likely to actually see meaningful behavior change in their patients, which lends itself to greater feelings of self-efficacy and lower burnout.

Another explanation is related to the mindset taken in an MI approach. If we feel that it is our responsibility to convince someone to change, and they don’t, our interactions will often be ineffective and frustrating. If, however, we take an MI approach, where we partner with the client and see our role as guiding them while respecting their autonomy to make their own decisions, we can feel less burdened by our work. We recognize that our clients’ decisions are up to them, and, as a result, we can have conversations that feel more engaging and less like a wrestling match.

Want to learn more? We have a free webinar coming up on the use of MI in vaccine conversations:

References:

Endrejat, P. C., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Learning motivational interviewing: Prospects to preserve practitioners’ well-being. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 14(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-03-2020-0041

EP 76 – MI for Burnout & Compassion Fatigue. (n.d.). https://podcast.glennhinds.com/episodes/ep-76-mi-for-burnout-compassion-fatigue

Hershberger, P., Flowers, S., Bayless, S., Conway, K., & Crawford, T. (2024). Interface between motivational interviewing and burnout. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, Volume 15, 181–187. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S450179