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The Hidden Toll of the Kitchen: Mental health challenges among professional chefs and the structural drivers of psychological distress in the culinary industry

Dr. Zubin D’Souza

Published in July - December 2026 (Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026)

The Hidden Toll of the Kitchen: Mental health challenges among professional chefs and the structural drivers of psychological distress in the culinary industry - Issue cover

Keywords

professional chefsculinary industrywork stressoccupational stressburnoutmental healthworkplace cultureworkplace toxicitykitchen brigadehospitality workforce

Abstract

Professional kitchens have long been celebrated as the crucibles within which extraordinary food and extraordinary talent are forged together. What this mythology carefully omits however, is the human cost of that crucible. Behind the theatre of the pass, the choreography of service, and the accolades of critics, lies a workforce that is disproportionately burdened by burnout, anxiety, depression and substance misuse. These are not individual failings, but as near inevitable consequences of structural conditions embedded within the industry itself. This study investigates the prevalence and structural determinants of mental health challenges among professional chefs. We draw on mixed-methods design that integrate systematic literature review, cross sectional surveys gathered from 342 culinary professionals across five countries, qualitative interview narratives and a Delphi consensus process. Validated instruments were used. These include MBI or Maslach Burnout Inventory, PHQ-9 or Patient Health Questionnaire – 9, and the GAD-7 which when expanded is Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale were deployed alongside logistic regression modelling and a conceptual structural equation model to interrogate both prevalence and causality. Findings indicate burnout prevalence at 58%, anxiety at 41%, depression at 36%, and problematic substance abuse at 27%. Weekly working hours (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.90-3.45, p< .001), perceived workplace hostility (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.30-2.61, p = .002), and reward-effort imbalance (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.45-3.05, p < .001) emerged as significant predictors of burnout. While managerial support demonstrated a modest protective effect (OR=0.72, p=.018). The study argues, and the data confirm the psychological distress in the culinary profession is not incidental but systemic. The predictable output of an industry that has never been adequately challenged to reconcile its cultural mythology with its human obligations. The findings have significant practical implications for the hospitality industry by demonstrating that chef well-being is strongly influenced by modifiable organisational and structural factors rather than individual resilience alone. The results provide evidence to support leadership development programmes for executive chefs, implementation of psychologically safe workplace practices, regulation of excessive working hours, routine mental health screening, and the integration of mental health education within culinary curricula. By identifying workplace hostility, effort-reward imbalance and prolonged working hours as key predictors of burnout, the study offers an evidence-based framework for hospitality organisations and policymakers seeking to improve workforce retention, employee well-being and organisational sustainability.

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Dr. Zubin D’Souza

IHM – Aurangabad

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July - December 2026 (Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026)

JHTCP110010

JHTCP-01-000010

71-95

2026-07-20

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Zubin, D., (2026). The Hidden Toll of the Kitchen: Mental health challenges among professional chefs and the structural drivers of psychological distress in the culinary industry. Re-IMAGINE The Journal for Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Professionals, 1(1), 71-95. https://journalihma.org/articles/JHTCP110010

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