Highly artistic-social personalities buffer the effects of burnout on career commitment

Whereas burnout among healthcare professionals is highly consequential to their career persistence and commitment, little is known about factors that can mitigate this relationship. Based on Holland's framework, this study examined whether high scores on artistic and social vocational personality types, which reflect greater congruence with the creative arts therapies profession, would buffer against the potentially adverse effects of burnout on career commitment. As expected, a sample of 505 Israeli students and therapists from different specializations (i.e., music, art, drama, and dance) scored significantly higher on the artistic and social vocational personality types than on other types on Holland's RIASEC questionnaire. Burnout significantly negatively correlated with career commitment, and a high composite score on the artistic and social vocational personality types moderated the effect of burnout on career commitment. In addition, earning above the national average salary, working simultaneously in the private and public sectors, affiliation with a professional association, and being a supervisor were associated with less burnout and more career commitment. This study provides insights into the role of profession-related factors that can protect the well-being of creative arts therapies students and practitioners.