Psihološka Obzorja (Jul 2007)
Development of Adrenal Burnout Syndrom Questionnaire and testing the basis of reciprocal burnout model
Abstract
The paper presents the new Adrenal Burnout Syndrome Questionnaire (ABS Questionnaire). The questionnaire is based on the Reciprocal Burnout Model, combining the existing academic findings with the research efforts of the Inštitut za razvoj človeških virov (Institute for Human Resources Development), Ljubljana. The questionnaire distinguishes among separate stages of burnout and correlates them with their characteristic symptoms. The survey has been conducted on 225 participants, employing the ABS Questionnary and the Questionnaire on the Basic Needs Fulfilment. The objectives of the survey were: (i) to investigate the burnout level in different demographic groups; (ii) to examine the presence of the symptoms of both increased and decreased cortisol levels in different burnout classes; (iii) to explore whether personal values, personality traits and the self-concept change in the period of the adrenal burnout following the break of the HPA axis, and (iv) to examine whether the burnout is related to the fulfilment of basic needs. The results indicated that the burnout syndrome may affect all demographic groups (including the unemployed) equally. In the last stage (the adrenal burnout after the break of the HPA axis) the change in values and personality may occur. Various facets of self-concept change during the burnout. Strong inverted correlation between the level of burnout and the rating of the level of the needs satisfaction is in accordance with the key assumption of the Reciprocal Model of Burnout.
