The Mediator Role of Feelings of Guilt in the Process of Burnout and Psychosomatic Disorders: A Cross-Cultural Study

Burnout was recently declared by WHO as an “occupational phenomenon” in the International Classification of Diseases 11th revision (ICD-11), recognizing burnout as a serious health issue. Earlier studies have shown that feelings of guilt appear to be involved in the burnout process. However, the exact nature of the relationships among burnout, guilt and psychosomatic disorders remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediator role of feelings of guilt in the relationship between burnout and psychosomatic disorders, and perform a cross-cultural validation of the multi-dimensional model by Gil-Monte in two samples of teachers (Portuguese vs. Spanish). The study sample was composed of 1,266 teachers, 1,062 from Spain, and 204 from Portugal. Burnout was measured by the Spanish Burnout Inventory. Hypotheses were tested together in a path model. The results obtained provide empirical evidence for the mediator role of guilt in the relationship between the Burnout syndrome and psychosomatic disorders in the sample of teachers from Spain and Portugal, and they contribute to the empirical validation of the model by Gil-Monte. The results indicate that guilt should be incorporated as a symptom of burnout in order to identify individuals affected by burnout and profiles or types of burnout to differentiate it from other pathologies like depression.

The healthy management: the moderator role of transformational leadership on health workers

Psychosocial risks arising from work, like workload, have a negative impact on the quality of work life, especially in terms of the deterioration in working conditions and negative consequences for employees’ health. The style of leadership exercised is key in coping with perceived psychosocial risks. The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of transformational leadership and workload on psychosomatic disorders, and the moderating role of transformational leadership in the relationship between workload and psychosomatic disorders. The sample consisted of 408 Spanish employees working with people with intellectual disabilities. Workload and Psychosomatic disorders were measured by the UNIPSICO subscales, Transformational leadership was measured by a subscale adapted from the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Bass & Avolio, 1989). Carrying out moderation analysis in PROCESS 3.4 results showed that both Workload and Transformational leadership had a significant influence on Psychosomatic disorders. In addition, Transformational leadership moderated the relationship between Workload and Psychosomatic disorders. Transformational leadership buffers the impact of workload on employees’ health and therefore in the need to carry out training programs for managers in organizations in order to exercise a healthy management.

Los riesgos psicosociales derivados del trabajo, como la sobrecarga laboral, tienen un impacto negativo en la calidad de vida laboral, especialmente en el deterioro de las condiciones laborales y en la salud de los empleados. El estilo de liderazgo ejercido es clave en el afrontamiento de los riesgos psicosociales percibidos. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar la influencia del liderazgo transformacional y la sobrecarga laboral sobre los problemas psicosomáticos, y el papel moderador del liderazgo transformacional en la relación entre sobrecarga laboral y problemas psicosomáticos. La muestra consistió en 408 empleados españoles que trabajan con personas con discapacidad intelectual. Sobrecarga laboral y Problemas psicosomáticos se midieron con las subescalas UNIPSICO y Liderazgo transformacional se midió con una subescala adaptada del Cuestionario Multifactorial de Liderazgo (Bass & Avolio, 1989). El análisis de moderación mediante PROCESS 3.4 mostró que tanto Sobrecarga laboral como Liderazgo transformacional tuvieron una influencia significativa sobre Problemas psicosomáticos. Además, Liderazgo transformacional moderó la relación entre Sobrecarga laboral y Problemas psicosomáticos. El liderazgo transformacional amortigua el impacto de la sobrecarga laboral en la salud de los empleados y, por lo tanto, se destaca la necesidad de implementar programas de capacitación para directivos en las organizaciones con el fin de ejercer una gestión saludable.

Validez sustantiva en el marco de la validez de contenido: Aplicación en la escala de Carga de Trabajo

La validez de contenido requiere evaluar la claridad y relevancia de los ítems, pero el contenido sustancial del mismo también. El objetivo del estudio fue utilizar la estrategia de validez sustantiva para evaluar el contenido de una Escala de Carga de Trabajo. Participaron 30 trabajadores (Lima, Perú), de instrucción superior y con experiencia laboral mayor a un año. Los participantes juzgaron la correspondencia de los ítems con su constructo, y fue también contrastado con otros constructos (conflicto de rol, afrontamiento y autoeficacia laboral); adicionalmente, se evaluó la claridad de los ítems. Se halló niveles elevados de claridad de los ítems; y la validez sustantiva fue satisfactoria para evaluar la divergencia con otros constructos en todos los ítems. Se discute la inclusión de los participantes no-expertos en los métodos de validez de contenido, para la diferenciación conceptual de los ítems, y en constructos asociados a los factores psicosociales.

Development of Burnout Syndrome in Non-university Teachers: Influence of Demand and Resource Variables

Psychosocial risks at work are an important occupational problem since they can have an impact on workers' health, productivity, absenteeism, and company profits. Among their consequences, burnout stands out for its prevalence and associated consequences. This problem is particularly noteworthy in the case of teachers. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of some psychosocial factors (demand and resource variables) and risks in burnout development, taking into consideration the levels of burnout according to the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI). This paper contributes to advancing knowledge on this issue by analyzing the influence of work characteristics and personal characteristics on the progress of burnout. The sample consisted of 8,235 non-university teachers (2,268 men 27.5% and 5,967 women 72.5%), aged 22 to 70 (M = 45.16, SD = 9.18). For this purpose, statistical modeling by logistic regression was used. The results of this study showed that No burnout level was positively related with resources variables and negatively with demand variables. In the Medium-High levels and the higher levels of burnout (i.e., Profile 1 and Profile 2), there is a positive relation with demand variables and a negative one with resource variables. In conclusion, demand variables cause an increase in the burnout levels, influencing positively the movements between the levels of No burnout to Medium-High levels of burnout and Medium-High levels to Profile 1. At the same time, resource variables had a negative influence on burnout. However, the results in the movement between Profile 1 and Profile 2 were not expected. The variable Imbalance had a negative relationship with the movement between Profile 1 to Profile 2, and Social support and Autonomy at work had a positive relationship with this movement. Therefore, when professionals feel higher levels of burnout, lack of imbalance together with social support and autonomy could contribute to increased feelings of guilt and risk of higher burnout.

Influence of Burnout and Feelings of Guilt on Depression and Health in Anesthesiologists

Background and objective: The WHO has included burnout as an occupational phenomenon in the ICD-11. According to the WHO, burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of feelings of guilt and burnout on health in Polish anesthesiologists. Alcohol and tobacco intake, psychosomatic disorders, and depression were assessed. Methods: The study had a non–randomized cross-sectional character. The sample consisted of 372 Polish anesthesiologists. Burnout was measured by the Spanish burnout inventory. Results: Post hoc analysis for burnout consequences: depression (F_(5,366) = 17.51, p < 0.001, η_p² = 0.193), psychosomatic disorders (F_(5,366) = 13.11, p < 0.001, η_p² = 0.152), and tobacco intake (F_(5,366) = 6.23, p < 0.001, η_p² = 0.078), showed significant differences between burnout with and without the highest levels of feelings of guilt. All the instruments applied were reliable. Conclusions: Depression, psychosomatic disorders, and alcohol and tobacco intake are suspected to be consequences of the highest guilt levels related to burnout, i.e., Profile 2 according to the burnout model of Gil-Monte. Participation in prevention programs is recommended for these cases.

Work-related burnout syndrome in physicians in Spain

This article brings together the views of a working group to deliberate on Burnout among Physicians in Spain. The document is the result of the answers that different members of the group have prepared to different questions on the subject with conclusions derived from the discussion among all the participants. Burnout is an entity with a high incidence in physicians, with serious work, personal and economic repercussions, whose recognition as a disease is changing in recent years. Particularly affected are some specialties, such as Primary Care, Oncology, Intensive Care Medicine, and Palliative Care. The common factor being an increased qualitative or quantitative demand on the professional. Although it may have a substratum of personal characteristics, it is more commonly associated with extrinsic factors specific to the organisation of work and the management of occupational risks. It involves serious indirect costs for the health system including absenteeism, high financial costs and leads to loss of health and well-being in people who suffer it.

High involvement work systems, happiness at work (HAW) and absorptive capacity: a bathtub study

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of high-involvement work systems (HIWS) on absorptive capacity. In addition, the mediating effect of happiness at work in the relationship between high-involvement work practices and absorptive capacity is analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2-1-2 bathtub multilevel mediation model was used to analyze a sample of 783 employees from 111 bank branches, gathering data at three different times.

Findings

The results reveal that HIWS positively affect absorptive capacity. In addition, they show that happiness at work partially mediates the relationship between HIWS and absorptive capacity.

Originality/value

Happiness at work is a fundamental element for knowledge absorption. The findings support the basic assumptions of the job demands-resources model, and demonstrate how HIWS, acting as a job resource, lead to positive attitudes (happiness at work) and, in turn, to positive outcomes (absorptive capacity). The proposed HIWS, based on the assumptions of the mutual gains model, reveal a positive employment relationship with effects on both HAW and organizational outcomes. If organizations expose their employees to management practices that have specific benefits for their HAW, employees are more likely to perform their jobs in ways that will promote their absorptive capacity.

Are Happy Workers More Productive? The Mediating Role of Service-Skill Use

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between happiness at work and cross-selling performance in the banking sector. In addition, the mediating effect of service-skill use is analyzed in the relationship between happiness at work and performance. Confirmatory factor analysis is used by means of structural equation models to assess the relationship between happiness at work, service-skill use, and cross-selling performance. A sample of 492 financial service employees is examined. Results reveal that happiness at work positively and directly affects cross-selling performance. The study also shows that service-skill use plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between happiness at work and cross-selling performance. This research expands the theory of the happy productive worker perspective based on the job demands-resources model and defines and conceptualizes service-skill use. Employees who are happier at work cross-sell better, but their service-skill use mediates the effect of happiness at work on cross-selling performance.

Validez Inicial de una Escala de Medición del Capital Intelectual en Universidades

Problema: La dificultad para medir el capital intelectual en universidades latinoamericanas acentúa su poco interés, a pesar de su relevancia en la economía del conocimiento. Objetivo: Construir y validar una escala de medición del capital intelectual de universidades a partir de la Teoría de Recursos y Capacidades y un modelo de tres componentes (capital humano, capital estructural y capital relacional). Método: Esta escala la elaboró un grupo de expertos utilizando análisis de contenido. La prueba empírica fue con una muestra de conveniencia (n=742) de académicos, mandos medios y directivos de universidades mexicanas. Resultados y conclusiones: Con el análisis factorial exploratorio se detectaron cuatro factores (capital humano, capital estructural, capital relacional y capital tecnológico) que explican 66.74% de varianza. El Alpha de Crobach fue mayor a .85. Se concluyen avances en la calidad métrica y estabilidad; queda en el tintero replicar el estudio para generar modelos de medida y estructural. Palabras clave: capital intelectual, escala de medición, universidades. Código JEL: I2, M1

Toward validating the Italian version of the "Spanish Burnout Inventory": a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop the Italian version of the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI) and to examine its psychometric properties within a sample of nursing staff.

METHOD

The study was cross-sectional and not randomized. The data were gathered using an anonymous, self-report questionnaire. The sample consisted of 391 staff nurses employed in three hospitals in the Northern Region of Italy To evaluate burnout, the SBI and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were administered.

RESULTS

An Exploratory Factor Analysis showed a four-factor structure close to the expected one. All Cronbach's alpha values were satisfactory. Furthermore, correlations support the concurrent validity.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results of this study provided evidence that the SBI is an adequate instrument to study burnout in the Italian nursing sample and indicated the feeling of guilt as an important dimension to gauge the structure of this phenomenon.

[The UNIPSICO questionnaire: psychometric properties of the scales measuring psychosocial demands]

PURPOSE

To analyze the psychometric properties of the UNIPSICO questionnaire' scales designed to evaluate psychosocial demands at work.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 2564 participants; 1391 were employees working with persons with intellectual disabilities and 1173 high school teachers from the Valencian Community. Data were collected using the UNIPSICO questionnaire, which features scales designed to measures psychosocial demands at work. This instrument contains 27 items distributed in 5 scales: interpersonal conflicts, imbalance, role conflict, role ambiguity, and workload. Data were analysed to test item validity, construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability by Cronbach's alpha, and predictive validity by stepwise regression analysis.

RESULTS

For all items, skewness and reliability were adequate. The five scales followed a normal distribution, with skewness values ranging between +1 and -1. The results of the CFA confirmed the hypothesised five-factor structure. The hypothesised model obtained a good data fit (GFI = 0,935, NNFI = 0,903, CFI = 0,914, RMSEA = 0,050). Scale score reliability coefficients for the five scales showed values above 0.70. Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated all variables to be significant predictors of psychosomatic disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The validity and reliability of the five scales were satisfactory. In addition, the scales offer predictive validity for measuring work-related psychosomatic disorders. The UNIPSICO scales analyzed are an adequate tool for the evaluation of psychosocial risk factors at work.

[The UNIPSICO questionnaire: psychometric properties of the scales measuring psychosocial resource factors]

PURPOSE

To analyze the psychometric properties of the UNIPSICO questionnaire' scales designed to evaluate psychosocial resource factors at work.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 2564 participants; 1391 were employees working with people with intellectual disability and 1173 were high school teachers from the Valencian Community. Data were collected through use of the UNIPSICO questionnaire, which includes scales designed to measure psychosocial resource factors in the workplace. This instrument consists of 26 items distributed in 4 scales: resources at work, work social support, feedback, and autonomy. Data were analysed to test item validity, construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability by Cronbach's alpha, and predictive validity by stepwise regression analysis.

RESULTS

For all items skewness and reliability values were adequate. The four scales followed the normal distribution, with skewness values ranging between +1 and -1. The results of the CFA confirmed the hypothesised four-factor structure. The hypothesised model showed a good data fit (GFI = 0,922, NNFI = 0,898, CFI = 0,912, RMSEA = 0,059). Scale score reliability coefficients for the five scales showed values above 0.80. Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated all variables were significant predictors of psychosomatic disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The validity and reliability of the four scales were satisfactory. In addition, the scales offer predictive validity for the study of work-related psychosomatic disorders. The UNIPSICO scales analyzed are an adequate tool to evaluate psychosocial resource factors at work.

Prevalence of burnout in Polish anesthesiologists and anesthetist nursing professionals: A comparative non-randomized cross-sectional study

The purpose of the study was to assess the burnout levels in nurses ( N = 161) versus physicians ( N = 373). The levels of burnout were evaluated by the Polish adaptation of the Spanish Burnout Inventory (Cronbach's alpha > .70). High burnout level was found in 18.63 percent nurses and 12.06 percent anesthesiologists, and critical level in 3.74 percent nurses and 5.90 percent anesthetists. There were statistically significant differences in Burnout global score, Enthusiasm toward the job, Psychological exhaustion, and Indolence subscales between nurses and physicians. No significant differences were found between sexes in any variable.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish Burnout Inventory among staff nurses

ACCESSIBLE SUMMARY

The burnout syndrome contributes to the deterioration in the quality of personal life as well as lower quality practice in healthcare personnel. Researchers have been concerned about the psychometric limitations of some previous questionnaires designed to evaluate burnout. The Spanish Burnout Inventory was developed to address the problems associated with other instruments, but it has not yet been validated in staff nurses. This study provides evidence that the Spanish Burnout Inventory has adequate psychometric properties to estimate burnout in staff nurses. The Spanish Burnout Inventory offers a theoretical proposal to explain the different components of burnout. The Spanish Burnout Inventory provides researchers and practitioners with an expanded conceptualization of the burnout syndrome, which can facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of nursing professionals.

ABSTRACT

Researchers have been concerned about the psychometric limitations of the some previous questionnaires designed to evaluate burnout. To address these problems associated with previous instruments, the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI) was developed. The instrument has not yet been validated in staff nurses. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SBI. The sample consisted of 720 staff nurses from two Spanish general hospitals. The instrument is composed of 20 items distributed in four dimensions: Enthusiasm towards the job (five items), Psychological exhaustion (four items), Indolence (six items) and Guilt (five items). Data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. To assess the factorial validity of the SBI, four alternative models were tested. Results show that the four-factor model of the SBI has adequate psychometric properties for the study of burnout in staff nurses. This model fitted the data better than the alternative models. The study provides evidence of the adequate psychometric properties of a measure to evaluate burnout in nursing professionals. The SBI proposes a theoretical explanation for the different types of burnout, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of staff nurses.

Prevención de riesgos laborales y su relación con el género de los trabajadores

OBJETIVO: el objetivo de este estudio consistió en analizar si existen diferencias en la gestión preventiva llevada a cabo en varias empresas que presentaron enfermedades profesionales en función del género de los trabajadores. MÉTODOS: se analizó una muestra de 302 trabajadores, siendo el 31,1% mujeres, de empresas donde se había declarado enfermedad profesional en la provincia de Valencia (España). Los datos se recogieron mediante un cuestionario con 40 preguntas. RESULTADOS: los resultados indicaron que en estas empresas se realizaba una gestión preventiva en la que el plan de prevención y la participación de los trabajadores eran las actividades que con menor frecuencia se aplicaban, y en el caso de las mujeres la gestión preventiva llevada a cabo resultaba significativamente peor que para los hombres. CONCLUSIONES: se concluye que con referencia a la prevención de riesgos laborales el género puede ser una variable que genera una discriminación negativa hacia las mujeres trabajadoras. Además, los riesgos laborales y los problemas de salud asociados deberían ser considerados un problema de salud pública.

Influence of mobbing (workplace bullying) on depressive symptoms: a longitudinal study among employees working with people with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

The problem of mobbing has attracted a great deal of attention over the past few years. This concern has increased the study of the phenomena, which has resulted in many scientific publications. Mobbing has been characterised as an emerging risk at work. The aim of this longitudinal study was to analyse the influence of mobbing on depressive symptoms in a sample of employees working with people with intellectual disabilities (ID).

METHOD

The sample consisted of 372 Spanish employees working with people with ID at 61 job centres in the Valencian Community (Spain). Seventy-nine (21.2%) participants were men, and 293 were (78.8%) women. Mobbing was evaluated by the Mobbing-UNIPSICO scale, and depressive symptoms were measured using the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale. Using analyses of variance (anova), we tested the differences in depressive symptoms according to the mobbing criteria indicated by Leymann, that is, frequency and duration at Time 1 and Time 2.

RESULTS

Employees who met the mobbing criteria: frequency (at least once a week) and duration (at least 6 months) at the two study times presented significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than employees who met mobbing criteria at Time 1, but did not meet any criteria for mobbing at Time 2, and employees who did not meet any criteria for mobbing at Time 1 or Time 2.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that permanence of mobbing from Time 1 to Time 2 increases depressive symptoms.

Psychometric properties of the 'Spanish burnout inventory' among employees working with people with intellectual disability

BACKGROUND

Burnout has been recognised as an important stress-related problem for employees working with people with intellectual disability. Researchers have been troubled by some of the psychometric limitations of the questionnaires developed to evaluate burnout. This study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish Burnout Inventory.

METHOD

The sample consisted of 697 Spanish employees working in intellectual disability services. The instrument is composed of 20 items distributed in four dimensions: Enthusiasm towards the job, Psychological exhaustion, Indolence and Guilt. The psychometric properties were examined through the following analyses: confirmatory factor analysis and reliability. To assess the factorial validity of the Spanish Burnout Inventory, four alternative models were tested.

RESULTS

The four-factor model obtained an adequate data fit for the sample. The four sub-scales exhibited high reliability, with Cronbach alphas exceeding the critical value of 0.70.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence showing the adequate psychometric properties of an alternative burnout measure that could facilitate the diagnosis of individuals with burnout. It recommends taking feelings of guilt into consideration in interventions designed to improve staff burnout.

Influence of some psychosocial factors on mobbing and its consequences among employees working with people with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

The problem of mobbing has attracted a great deal of attention over the past few years. This concern has increased the study of the phenomena, which has resulted in many scientific publications. Mobbing has been characterized as an emerging risk at work. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of some psychosocial factors at work - role clarity, interpersonal conflicts and social support - on mobbing and its consequences - that is, inclination towards absenteeism and psychosomatic disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample included 422 employees working with people with intellectual disabilities. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.

RESULTS

The Hypothesized model showed an adequate fit to data, and all hypothesized relationships were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide support for the mediator role of mobbing in the relationship between high role ambiguity, low social support and high interpersonal conflicts and psychosomatic disorders and inclination towards absenteeism.

[Burnout and job satisfaction among nursing professionals]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction among nursing professionals. The sample consisted of 316 staff nurses. The study was longitudinal, and not randomized. The gap between Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2) was one year. Hierarchical regression analysis showed empirical evidence of the significant and negative effect of burnout (i.e., Emotional exhaustion and Depersonalization dimensions) at T1 on job satisfaction in T2. Significant results were also obtained that showed the influence of job satisfaction at T1 on burnout at T2 (i.e., Depersonalization dimension). The study concludes that there is a bidirectional and longitudinal relationship between burnout and job satisfaction. However, longitudinal effects of burnout at T1 on job satisfaction on T2 (i.e., burnout as antecedent of job satisfaction) are stronger than vice-versa (i.e., job satisfaction as antecedent of burnout).

The Influence of Guilt on the Relationship Between Burnout and Depression

Burnout is a serious problem that can be expressed as psychological symptoms, such as depressive mood. Earlier studies have shown that feelings of guilt appear to be involved in the burnout process. However, the exact nature of the relationships among burnout, guilt, and depression is unclear. The purpose of this study was to test the mediator role of guilt in the relationship between burnout and depression. The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 700 employees working with intellectually disabled persons. Hypotheses were tested together in a path model. Two models were constructed to test the relationships among the variables. The difference between the models was the order of the Guilt-Depression relationship. The Hypothesized model (i.e., Indolence → Guilt → Depression) showed an adequate fit to data, and all hypothesized relationships were significant. The fit of the Alternative model (i.e., Indolence → Depression → Guilt) was worse than the fit of the Hypothesized model. The hypothesized model offers a good representation of the relationships among burnout, guilt, and depression. The results point to recommending the incorporation of the evaluation of guilt as a symptom of burnout, in order to perform a more complete diagnosis and discriminate among subjects affected by burnout.

[Antecedents and consequences of workplace bullying: a longitudinal analysis with a structural equation model]

Most studies focusing on the antecedents and consequences of workplace bullying have used a cross-sectional design, which impedes determining the causality of the relationships. In the present work, we analyzed, by means of structural equation models, the relationship between workplace bullying and some variables that are considered antecedents (interpersonal conflicts, role ambiguity, role conflict, and workplace social support) or consequences (health complaints and inclination to absenteeism from work) of this phenomenon. Multicenter study with two phases. The sample consisted of 696 employees from 66 centers. Workplace bullying was assessed by means of the "Mobbing-UNIPSICO" questionnaire, and the other variables with frequency scales. The cross-sectional models indicated a significant association between role conflict, workplace social support, and workplace bullying in both study periods. Concerning the longitudinal relationships, only workplace social support was a significant predictor of workplace bullying, which, in turn, was a cross-sectional and longitudinal predictor of workers' health complaints. Our results show the mediating effect of workplace bullying between certain work conditions and health complaints, and it is recommendable to replicate these findings in a multi-occupational sample.

Psychometric properties of the "Spanish Burnout Inventory" in Chilean professionals working to physical disabled people

While the most commonly employed burnout measure has been the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), researchers have been troubled by some of the psychometric limitations of this instrument. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the "Spanish Burnout Inventory" (SBI). The psychometric properties were analysed with data from a sample of 277 Chilean professionals working to physical disabled people. The psychometric properties of the SBI were examined through the following analyses: confirmatory factor analysis, reliability Cronbach's alpha, and concurrent validity with the MBI. The hypothesized four factor model obtained an adequate data fit for the sample (chi2(164) = 285.32, p < .001, GFI = .96, RMSEA = .052, NNFI .93, CFI = .94). Results confirmed the hypothesis formulated. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was higher than .70 for the four scales of the instruments. Results supported the concurrent validity with the MBI. As a whole, the results of these study provided evidence on the adequate psychometric properties of the SBI for the study of burnout in the Chilean cultural context.

Validation of the Brazilian version of the 'Spanish Burnout Inventory' in teachers

OBJECTIVE

To assess factorial validity and internal consistency of the Brazilian version of the 'Spanish Burnout Inventory' (SBI).

METHODS

The translation process of the SBI into Brazilian Portuguese included translation, back translation, and semantic equivalence. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out using a four-factor model, which was similar to the original SBI. The sample consisted of 714 teachers working in schools in the metropolitan area of the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, in 2008. The instrument comprises 20 items and four subscales: Enthusiasm towards job (5 items), Psychological exhaustion (4 items), Indolence (6 items), and Guilt (5 items). The model was analyzed using LISREL 8.

RESULTS

Goodness-of-Fit statistics showed that the hypothesized model had adequate fit: chi2(164) = 605.86 (p<0.000); Goodness-of-Fit Index = 0.92; Adjusted Goodness-of-Fit Index = 0.90; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.062; Nonnormed Fit Index = 0.91; Comparative Fit Index = 0.92; and Parsimony Normed Fit Index = 0.77. Cronbach's alpha measures for all subscales were higher than 0.70.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that the SBI has adequate factorial validity and internal consistency to assess burnout in Brazilian teachers.

Validez factorial del “cuestionario para la evaluación del síndrome de quemarse por el Trabajo” (CESQT) en una muestra de médicos mexicanos

El objetivo del este estudio fue evaluar la validez factorial y la consistencia interna del “Cuestionario para la Evaluación del Síndrome de Quemarse por el Trabajo” (CESQT). Se hipotetizó un modelo de cuatro factores, similar al del oringinal. La muestra fueron estuvo formada por 1110 médicos del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. El instrumento está formado por 20 items distribuidos en 4 subescalas: Ilusión por el trabajo (5 items), Desgaste psíquico (4 items), Indolencia (6 items), y Culpa (5 items). El modelo fue evaluado con LISREL 8. Según diferentes índices de ajuste global el modelo presentó un ajuste adecuado: Chi2(164) = 225.06 (p < 0.001), GFI = 0.83, RMSEA = 0.061, NNFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.92, PNFI = 0.65. El alfa de Cronbach para todas las subescalas presentó valores superiores a 0.70. En conjunto, los resultados indican que el CESQT presentó en esta muestra validez factorial y sus subescalas presentaron valores de consistencia interna adecuados.

[Burnout prevalence in pediatricians of general hospitals]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of burnout in pediatricians of general hospitals.

METHODS

Non-randomized cross-sectional study carried out in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2006. The study sample comprised 123 pediatricians working in pediatrics services of general hospitals, 89 women (72.4%) and 34 men (27.6%). Data were gathered through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and different approaches were employed to estimate burnout prevalence.

RESULTS

The prevalence of burnout was different according to the approach used: the prevalence was 10.6% by the United States criteria; 24.4% by the Spanish criteria; 37.4% by the Argentinean criteria and 3.25% by the Dutch clinical criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Burnout prevalences varied significantly depending on the approach used due to cross-cultural influences.

Magnitude of relationship between burnout and absenteeism: a preliminary study

This study examined the influence of guilt related to a negative attitude toward patients and its relation with burnout and absenteeism. The sample consisted of 717 nursing professionals. Depersonalization was evaluated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Guilt was evaluated by one item. To estimate Absenteeism, participants were asked about the number of workdays they had missed in the past year. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses make it possible to conclude that guilt explains work absenteeism, and the interaction between depersonalization and guilt (Incr. R2 = .008, p < .05) indicates significant differences in the number of work days missed in the last year. Conclusions are limited, as these effects are quite weak: all variables together only explain about 4% of the shared variance in absenteeism. Researchers might assess whether feelings of guilt help explain the relationship between burnout and symptoms such as absenteeism.

Factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) among Spanish professionals

OBJECTIVE

To assess the factorial validity and internal consistency of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS).

METHODS

In a sample consisting of 705 Spanish professionals from diverse occupational sectors (health, education, police and so one), seven plausible factorial models hypothesized were compared using LISREL 8.

RESULTS

The four-factor oblique solution and the three-factor oblique solution showed the best and similar fit. Deletion of Item 12 and Item 16, taking into consideration the suggestions in the manual, improved the goodness of fit for both models. The four-factor oblique model suggests that, in addition to Emotional Exhaustion (EE) and Depersonalization (DP), Personal Accomplishment (PA) consists of two components labeled here Self-Competence (Items 4, 7, 17, and 21) and the Existential Component (Items 9, 12, 18, and 19). However, the alpha coefficient was relatively low for the Self-Competence component, suggesting that it is more suitable to estimate the syndrome as a three-dimensional construct. The Cronbach's alpha was satisfactory for PA (alpha =.71) and EE (alpha =.85), and moderate for DP (alpha =.58).

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that the MBI-HSS offers factorial validity and its scales present internal consistency to evaluate the quality of working life for Spanish professionals.

[Factorial validity of the Spanish adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the factorial structure of a Spanish version of the "Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey" (MBI-GS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1999 among 149 municipal policemen in Tenerife, Spain. A questionnaire was applied to collect data on Professional Efficacy, Cynicism, and Burnout. Data were analyzed using factorial analysis and principal components with Varimax rotation.

RESULTS

Four factors had eigenvalues greater than I; Factor I grouped Professional Efficacy items, Factor II grouped three Cynicism items. Further analysis was conducted to limit extraction to three factors. The factorial solution replicated the distribution of items in the questionnaire manual.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results show that the Spanish version of the questionnaire is valid and reliable.