Original scientific paper

BURNOUT SYNDROME AMONG PHYSICIANS – THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS AND COPING STRATEGIES

Bojana Pejušković ; Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia
Dušica Lečić-Toševski ; Belgrade University, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
Stefan Priebe ; Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
Oliver Tošković ; Belgrade University, School of Philosophy, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Background: Burnout syndrome (BS) and stress-related disorders are frequent among medical specialists, but it has been
suggested that some health workers are more prone to the BS than others. This study assessed the intensity of the BS among 3 groups
of physicians: psychiatrists, general practitioners and surgeons and examined correlation both between the intensity of BS and
physicians` personality dimensions as well as between the level of BS and stress coping strategies.
Subjects and methods: The sample consisted of 160 physicians (70 general practitioners, 50 psychiatrists, 40 surgeons). The
assessment was carried out by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, The Temperament and Character Inventory and Manual for the Ways
of Coping Questionnaire.
Results: Dimension of emotional exhaustion was the most prominent in general practitioners (F=5.546, df1=2, df2=156,
p<0.01), while dimension of depersonalization was highest in surgeons (F=15.314, df1=2, df2=156, p<0.01), as well as lack of
personal accomplishment (F=16.079, df1=2, df2=156, p<0.01). We found that the Harm Avoidance has lead to development of BS
while Self-directedness and Cooperativeness were prominent in physicians with low level of BS. The escape-avoidance was in
correlation with high depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment while self-control was prominent in physicians with
lower BS.
Conclusion: The BS affects personal well-being and professional performance. It is important to identify individuals with a
tendency towards its development, in order to undertake preventive measures such as stress management and improvement of the
stress coping strategies.

Keywords

burnout syndrome; physicians; personality dimensions; coping strategies

Hrčak ID:

76849

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76849

Publication date:

31.12.2011.

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