A national study reveals fewer pediatricians report emotional exhaustion, though overall burnout prevalence in healthcare remains a concern.


RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

  1. Declining Burnout Rates: The percentage of pediatricians reporting burnout symptoms dropped from 46.2% in 2021 to 35.2% in 2025, according to a national survey analysis.
  2. Key Mitigating Factors: Researchers identified job changes, increased schedule flexibility, and decreased busyness in work environments as the three main factors linked to burnout reductions.
  3. Ongoing Workplace Concerns: Despite the measured decreases, study authors emphasized that overall burnout levels remain elevated across the healthcare workforce and require continued attention.


Significantly fewer pediatricians reported symptoms of burnout over the past five years, according to a national data analysis released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For the investigation, researchers surveyed 2,353 pediatricians to assess current burnout, emotional exhaustion, feelings of cynicism or detachment, and perceptions of not accomplishing worthwhile work. Participation across the 2021 to 2025 survey waves ranged from 74% to 79%, according to the report.

Physician burnout reached peak levels during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, according to prior healthcare workforce research cited in the report. The AAP analysis found that while nearly half of respondents (46.2%) reported experiencing burnout in 2021, that figure dropped to 35.2% by 2025.

Across the four tracked burnout indicators, researchers identified three primary workplace factors associated with improvements: changing jobs, obtaining greater flexibility in work scheduling, and experiencing decreased busyness within the clinical setting.

Although the downward trajectory offers positive signs for pediatric healthcare staffing and retention, the researchers noted that challenges persist. The study authors stated that while the reported reductions are encouraging, the overall prevalence of burnout remains concerning and underscores the necessity of continued attention, institutional support, and sustained intervention across healthcare systems.

The study, titled “Pediatrician Burnout Over Time: 2021-2025,” was published online in September 2026 and is scheduled to appear in the October 2026 issue of Pediatrics. The research was conducted as part of the AAP Pediatrician Life and Career Experience Study (PLACES), an ongoing longitudinal study tracking three age cohorts based on residency graduation years: 2002-2004, 2009-2011, and 2016-2018.