Steve feels relief when a client cancels. His attendance at staff meetings is irregular and he tends to psychologically withdraw when he is there. His wife and children are also feeling the effects of his work situation since he feels overwhelmed by the demands of family life and has become indifferent to their needs. Steve is suffering from the following type of burnout:

• A. Occupational
• B. Interpersonal
• C. Physiological
• D. Environmental

Answer: (B)

Interpersonal burnout is burnout that shows up in how a professional relates to others—clients, colleagues, and even family—rather than just in physical symptoms or the tasks of the job. Steve’s relief when a client cancels reveals that the social demands of client work are draining; avoiding those interactions brings him a sense of relief. His irregular attendance and tendency to withdraw during staff meetings show disengagement from colleagues and the relational side of the workplace. The ripple effect at home—feeling overwhelmed by family demands and becoming indifferent to their needs—illustrates how work-related stress spills over into important personal relationships. This pattern points to interpersonal burnout, where relationships and social connections are the primary casualty.