Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи

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...

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Main Authors: N. Chernus, K. Serdakova, I. Vasilyeva, S. .Sivkov, T. Savina, A. Sivkov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2021-04-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821009391/type/journal_article
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author N. Chernus
K. Serdakova
I. Vasilyeva
S. .Sivkov
T. Savina
A. Sivkov
author_facet N. Chernus
K. Serdakova
I. Vasilyeva
S. .Sivkov
T. Savina
A. Sivkov
author_sort N. Chernus
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-3c8c6161bd214e3cbf56f9b8f7cde5822023-11-17T05:07:01ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S350S35010.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.939Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsиN. Chernus0K. Serdakova1I. Vasilyeva2S. .Sivkov3T. Savina4A. Sivkov5Department Of Outpatient Therapy, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University: Moscow, Russia, Moscow, Russian FederationDepartment Of Psychology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University: Moscow, Russia, Moscow, Russian FederationDepartment Of Outpatient Therapy, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University: Moscow, Russia, Moscow, Russian FederationThe Department Of Clinical Pharmacology And Internal Diseases Propaedeutics, the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian FederationDepartment Of Outpatient Therapy, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University: Moscow, Russia, Moscow, Russian FederationThe Department Of Clinical Pharmacology And Internal Diseases Propaedeutics, the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation 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. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821009391/type/journal_articleburnoutadaptationempathyalexithymia
spellingShingle N. Chernus
K. Serdakova
I. Vasilyeva
S. .Sivkov
T. Savina
A. Sivkov
Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи
European Psychiatry
burnout
adaptation
empathy
alexithymia
title Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи
title_full Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи
title_fullStr Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи
title_full_unstemmed Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи
title_short Professional burnout syndrome: Alexithymia, empathy and communication mechanismsи
title_sort professional burnout syndrome alexithymia empathy and communication mechanismsи
topic burnout
adaptation
empathy
alexithymia
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821009391/type/journal_article
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AT ssivkov professionalburnoutsyndromealexithymiaempathyandcommunicationmechanismsi
AT tsavina professionalburnoutsyndromealexithymiaempathyandcommunicationmechanismsi
AT asivkov professionalburnoutsyndromealexithymiaempathyandcommunicationmechanismsi