A groundbreaking study has revealed the potent combination of doodling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an innovative intervention for mitigating employee burnout in the demanding environment of a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE). Traditionally, burnout interventions have relied heavily on verbal and quantitative methods, often overlooking the profound impact of non-verbal, creative activities. This latest research breaks new ground by integrating these two distinct approaches into what is termed the “HDT” — a hybrid doodling toolkit aimed at not only alleviating stress but also reshaping employees’ psychological resources.
Drawing on a sophisticated mixed-method design, researchers conducted pre- and post-intervention assessments over a four-week timeframe, enriching existing burnout literature with both quantified results and nuanced qualitative insights. The study suggests that the incorporation of doodling into CBT interventions offers a unique emotional outlet for participants. This outlet facilitates deeper psychological and behavioural transformation, transcending traditional therapy boundaries. By embracing both the structured cognitive reframing typical of CBT and the spontaneous, expressive aspects of doodling, the HDT intervention delivers a richer, more holistic therapeutic experience for employees grappling with burnout.
Theoretically, this study represents a significant evolution in the application of CBT within workplace mental health strategies. Historically, CBT has been anchored in verbal communication aimed at restructuring dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours. However, this research elucidates the added value of non-verbal tools such as doodling, highlighting their ability to supplement and amplify therapeutic effects. The creative act of doodling not only promotes relaxation but also serves as an embedded behavioural cue that encourages the spontaneous adoption of burnout-reducing habits beyond the session itself, forging a powerful link between artistic expression and cognitive change.
Specifically, the integration of doodling into CBT elicited three critical cognitive-behavioural shifts among participants. First, doodling acted dualistically as a relaxation mechanism and a behavioural prompt, fostering participants’ self-directed engagement with their mental health. Through the physical act of colouring and drawing, employees internalised a personal commitment to managing burnout, translating these artistic interludes into tangible self-care routines. Second, the intervention shifted cognitive focus away from negativity, nurturing more positive work and life perspectives. The process of reflective colouring was shown to actively enhance well-being, suggesting that visual arts can recalibrate attention and emotional processing in occupational settings. Lastly, CBT’s emphasis on cognitive restructuring bolstered self-efficacy, which in turn translated into heightened job satisfaction and a deeper sense of career fulfilment.
These findings corroborate and extend prevailing psychological theories on complementary therapies, particularly those advocating the fusion of art with behavioural interventions. The evidence aligns closely with research on cognitive behavioural art therapy (CBAT), which combines verbal and non-verbal expressive modalities to treat mood disorders and enhance coping skills. Notably, previous work with at-risk youth exposed to adversities demonstrated that similar combinations of CBT and doodling improve resilience and promote positive attitudinal shifts. By adapting these insights to the unique context of burnout in Chinese SOEs, the present study broadens the scope and applicability of CBAT in organisational health interventions.
Crucially, the results resonate with broader positive psychology frameworks, providing empirical support for Psychological Capital Theory within workplace well-being. This theory posits that developing positive psychological resources—including self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience—can dramatically improve performance and emotional health. The HDT’s ability to elevate participants’ self-confidence and coping capacity effectively expanded their psychological capital, creating a robust psychological buffer to counter workplace stress. Particularly significant was the observed reduction in cynicism—an attitudinal component of burnout linked with disengagement—thereby evidencing how creative CBT-based tools strengthen individual resilience and foster sustained emotional well-being.
Additionally, this intervention aligns strategically with foundational organisational theories such as Job Crafting Theory, which emphasises employees’ proactive role in reshaping their job experiences to enhance fit and meaning. Rather than passively enduring burnout, employees engaged in an active form of job crafting by co-creating their personal coping toolkits and reframing daily challenges through doodling diaries. This autonomy in tailoring their work-life narratives allowed participants to reclaim control, balance job demands with resources, and ultimately experience renewed work engagement. Such results underscore an intriguing intersection where art-based methods catalyse empowerment and self-directed positive change within rigid corporate structures.
From a pragmatic standpoint, the HDT intervention holds remarkable promise as a low-cost, scalable approach to burnout management, especially in resource-limited organisational environments. Unlike conventional top-down programmes that often suffer from poor personalisation and engagement, this toolkit places employees at the centre of self-intervention, fostering ownership and intrinsic motivation. Its straightforward design and ease of implementation render it a viable model for replication across diverse settings, thereby addressing a critical gap in current occupational health practices.
The three-tiered mechanism of impact—stress relief through creative expression, enhancement of CBT’s reflective practices, and facilitation of improved social workplace dynamics—highlights the multifaceted benefits of doodling within organisational contexts. Participants experienced tangible emotional relief in the moment, improved cognitive reappraisal of their professional experiences, and better social interaction as doodling created informal communication channels, strengthening team cohesion. This triangulation of outcomes not only addresses burnout holistically but also revitalises workplace culture by integrating art-based communication tools.
Furthermore, the study breaks new ground by documenting the active role of participants in ‘mirroring’ their work states through doodling, effectively ‘snapshotting’ their career emotions and challenges. This process promotes ongoing self-awareness and positive belief construction rather than passive reception of intervention content, suggesting that long-term, psychologically healthy workplaces require such interactive and participatory models. This finding challenges typical burnout programs focused solely on symptom alleviation, advocating instead for interventions that empower employees as co-creators in their mental health journeys.
Neuropsychological evidence illuminates why this combined approach is particularly effective. Drawn from CBT’s cognitive restructuring framework and doodling’s stimulation of the prefrontal cortex and reward pathways, this synergistic intervention reduces negative cognitive biases while simultaneously energising positive emotional circuits. The intrinsic motivation generated by creatively engaging with CBT concepts transforms the often laborious cognitive work of therapy into an enjoyable and sustainable activity, enhancing adherence and accelerating mental health benefits.
A particularly striking insight from the study is the pronounced efficacy of HDT among younger employees, who demonstrated greater reductions in cynicism—a key burnout dimension. This demographic is notably vulnerable to burnout due to early-career instability and heightened stress exposures. The higher receptiveness of younger workers to doodling and reflective activities reflects generational openness to innovative, creative intervention techniques. The findings support the potential of targeted engagement strategies designed to harness young employees’ willingness to experiment with novel coping tools, ultimately contributing to improved organisational outcomes and workforce retention.
Importantly, the study situates its intervention within the unique cultural and structural characteristics of Chinese SOEs, acknowledging the complex interplay of hierarchical structures and ‘mianzi’ (face) culture. Without strong leadership endorsement, initiatives like HDT risk being perceived as misaligned or stigmatizing, undermining participation. The entrenched reluctance to openly express vulnerability in collectivist settings demands thoughtful positioning of mental health programmes as professional development supported by senior management. When successfully integrated within these cultural frameworks, the HDT facilitates collective adoption, bolstering team harmony and sustainability.
This research thus offers pivotal guidance for future organisational interventions, emphasizing that cultural sensitivity, managerial buy-in, and employee empowerment are essential pillars for success. The marriage of cognitive behavioural principles with creative art forms exemplified by the HDT not only delivers measurable reductions in burnout but also champions a paradigm shift toward more human-centred, engaging, and psychologically informed workplace health practices. It heralds a new era where mental health interventions transcend their clinical origins, entering the realm of everyday employee empowerment and organisational resilience.
In conclusion, the hybrid doodling toolkit represents a groundbreaking advancement in the fight against workplace burnout, deftly combining psychological theory with artistic innovation. Its empirical success within a challenging SOE context underscores its broad applicability, scalability, and cultural adaptability. By fostering both cognitive restructuring and creative emotional expression, the HDT enhances psychological capital, promotes job crafting, and nurtures a positive organisational climate. This pioneering fusion of CBT and doodling provides a compelling, replicable template for organisations worldwide seeking to support employee well-being while boosting productivity and engagement.
Subject of Research: The effectiveness of a hybrid doodling and cognitive behavioural therapy intervention (HDT) to reduce employee burnout in a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
Article Title: Exploring the doodle toolkit for burnout intervention among grassroots employees in one Chinese state-owned enterprise.
Article References:
Wang, B., Li, K. & Lin, Z. Exploring the doodle toolkit for burnout intervention among grassroots employees in one Chinese state-owned enterprise. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1454 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05644-8
Image Credits: AI Generated
