Adaptive Leadership and Burnout in Military Healthcare Workers During a Global Health Pandemic

The findings of burnout in this military healthcare worker population were higher than have previously been described in healthcare workers or other military personnel, and the significant associations between adaptive leadership and burnout suggest the protective role of adaptive leadership in healthcare systems to address burnout. Implementing adaptive leadership training or selecting leaders with more adaptive leadership skills may be beneficial in a health care system where employee burnout is prevalent, especially during periods stressed by adaptive problems. This may be especially important in military healthcare when active duty service obligations preclude attrition in the presence of additional stressors such as deployments and Federal Emergency Management Agency responses. Further research is needed to determine whether this intervention is successful at reducing healthcare burnout.