Burnout, Belonging, and Mental Well-Being: Predictors of Turnover Intent Among Local Public Health Professionals

Authors

Timothy C. McCall, Author Affiliations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr McCall, Ms Perkins, and Dr Alford), and Department of Clinical Research & Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr McCall).
Kellie Perkins
Aaron A. Alford

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Journal

Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP

Volume

32

Issue

1S Suppl 1

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0000000000002274

Keywords

belonging; burnout; career intentions; local public health; well-being; workforce

Abstract

We analyzed a nationally representative sample of local public health professionals (LPHPs) from varying jurisdiction sizes across the United States who responded to the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS). Our goal was to explore experiences of burnout; perceived belonging within an agency; self-rated mental and emotional well-being; and intentions to leave an organization. Results showed that burnout was negatively associated with and perceived belonging within an agency was positively associated with ratings of mental and emotional health. Each of these 3 variables were associated with an intent to leave an organization in the next year. We discuss implications to-and recommendations for mitigating-attrition of the nation's local public health workforce after the size of the LPHP workforce rebounded following over a decade of decline.

APA Citation

McCall, Timothy C.; Perkins, Kellie; and Alford, Aaron A., "Burnout, Belonging, and Mental Well-Being: Predictors of Turnover Intent Among Local Public Health Professionals" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8035.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8035

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership