Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи

Abstract

Introduction Professional burnout syndrome (PBS) is currently considered from the perspective of value-oriented sense –of underlying psychological factors contributing to PBS development promotes the relevance of this study. Objectives The study population included 81 medical professionals from out-patient polyclinic healthcare institution, among which 47(58%) healthcare professionals showed symptoms of burnout (mean age – 38,5±11,4 years old). Methods ‘Attitude to Work and Professional Burnout’ by V.A. Vinokur, ‘Coping Strategies’ by S. Folkman and R. Lazarus Р., Spielberg’s Questionnaire; TAS-26; Emotional Response Scale by A. Megrabyan and N. Epstein. Results The correlation analysis revealed certain interdependencies between the professional burnout symptoms and personal qualities of subjects. Thus, the higher burnout level correlated with increased emotional burnout (r=0,871; p=0,016), reduced professional satisfaction (r=0,624; p=0,031), poorer health and adaptation (r=0,872; p=0,023), increased state anxiety (r=0,551; p=0,000), increased alexithymia scores (r=0,823; p=0,017); reduced empathy scores as emotional response to others’ emotional experience (r=0,466; p=0,000) and reduced willingness to involve into other people’s issues (r=0,564; p=0,032). No statistically significant correlations between TAS total alexithymia score and empathy score were demonstrated. Conclusions The healthcare professionals employed at the out-patient polyclinic units belong to the at-risk population group of professional burnout syndrome development. The individuals with higher burnout levels show typical specific correlations of empathy forms: in particular, decreased ability to differentiate one’s feelings from feelings of others, increased emotional sensitivity and reduced willingness to involve into other people’s issues are usually observed.

Keywords

• burnout
• adaptation
• empathy
• alexithymia