While mayors in France express a relatively high level of satisfaction, around 1,200 of them say they are in a situation of severe exhaustion, close to burnout, according to a study by the University of Montpellier.
Mayors in France express a relatively high level of satisfaction but are very exposed to a risk of burnout, according to a study conducted by the University of Montpellier in conjunction with the Association of Rural Mayors of France (AMRF).
More than 1,700 mayors in total responded to the two data collections in the first half of 2024 for this study described as unprecedented on the mental health of local elected officials in a country with the largest number of mayors in the world (34,893), explain the authors, professors Olivier Torres and Mathieu Le Moal of the Amarok Observatory and the Entreprendre laboratory at the University of Montpellier.
She notes that 69.3% of mayors show positive satisfaction, a result “which contrasts with the general perception” given “the public debates and the challenges that elected officials face”. More than 45% of them indicate a satisfaction of 7 or 8 on a scale of 10. Conversely, 6.9% of elected officials declare themselves very dissatisfied.
More worrying: 31.40% of French mayors say they experience a presence of exhaustion in their function and even 3.48% of them say they are in a situation of severe exhaustion, which would correspond to a range of approximately 1,200 mayors currently in France, details this survey. This risk is even higher among female mayors.
“A form of frustration exhaustion syndrome”
“The risk of mayoral burnout is a curious mix between the frenetic syndrome and the impediment syndrome. French mayors are both very invested but very impeded (feeling of helplessness). They suffer from a form of frustration exhaustion syndrome,” according to the authors.
“The most intense stressors are administrative complexity and burden, workload, lack of time and difficulties related to grants.”
These results “highlight the dangers of the mayor’s role that must be remedied, but also the many sources of satisfaction and pride in this role, including the completion of projects. Nevertheless, noting that more than 1,200 mayors in France are at severe risk of burnout is a figure that should concern us all,” reacted John Billard, mayor of Favril (Eure-et-Loir), a village of around 400 inhabitants, and general secretary of the AMRF, quoted in the press kit.
“The mayor today suffers from a feeling of lack of recognition. Which is paradoxical because we need mayors all the time. We have a strong challenge of generational renewal and it is important to show the positive aspects of our mandate such as passion and commitment”, estimated the president of the AMRF, Michel Fournier, mayor of Voivres (Vosges), a village of around 300 inhabitants.
