Why does it matter?

You may have an occupational moral injury if you feel guilt, shame, or betrayal because of your work. Other symptoms include unresolved anger, disgust, and spiritual or existential confusion.¹⁰

Moral injury can cause emotional and psychological pain, make it harder for you to do your job, and worsen your health, relationships, and quality of life.¹¹

Healthcare workers report the highest rates of potential moral injuries, even higher than combat veterans.^{12, 13} However, other kinds of workers also face frequent moral injuries.

Moral injury causes individual and family suffering and financially hurts our communities. Researchers estimated the total economic burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2018 was $232.2 billion.¹⁴ Moral injury may be similarly costly.

Moral injury and burnout are related concepts, but they are different. Moral injury can cause burnout, and burnout can be a kind of moral injury or make workers more likely to be harmed by moral injury.¹⁵

Some moral dilemmas are unavoidable, but all people deserve to work in conditions that minimize the chance of moral injury as much as possible.