Burnout Syndrome: population-based study on public servants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of burnout syndrome among workers in the public sector. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with a representative sample consisting of 879 municipal civil servants in a city of the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. In order to measure the demographic variables and related characteristics of work we used a questionnaire developed for this purpose.The perception of the work environment was measured by the Work Atmosphere Scale. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to assess burnout syndrome. Three multiple stepwise linear regression tests were performed, in which each dimension of the syndrome was considered outcome while the other variables were estimated as predictors, adjusted for gender and age. RESULTS: The variables related to perceptions of work environment were the ones which most contributed to the occurrence of burnout. Perceiving work as stressful and the presence of people who negatively affect the work environment contributed to the explanatory model of the three dimensions. There were nine variables which comprised a predictive model which explained 43% of Emotional Exhaustion. The variable 'perceives how stressful the job appeared to be' had the highest explanatory power. In Despersonalization, eight variables comprised 25% of the model and, once again, 'perceives how stressful the job appeared to be' was the variable with the highest explanatory power. 'Low Professional Fulfillment' revealed a set of variables with an explanatory power of 20%; a working environment considered to be good showed a higher weighting, showing it to be inversely associated. CONCLUSIONS: Public servants' perceptions of their work environment play an important role as a predictor of burnout. Viewing work as stressful and the presence of people who negatively affect the environment proved to be the elements of greatest importance.