A study of occupational stress burnout and their correlates among health care professionals

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to assess Occupational Stress, Burnout and their correlates (viz. Work Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, Quality of Work Life, Coping Strategies and Personality) among doctors and nurses (both males and females) practicing in public and private sector hospitals. The results showed that comparing doctors and nurses, nurse scored significantly higher than doctors on Occupational Stress, Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, Burnout, Physical Work Fatigue and Compassion Fatigue in all the groups. Doctors scored significantly higher on Mental Work Fatigue, positive perception of Quality of Work Life, Emotion Focused Engagement Coping and Engagement Coping in all the groups. Results also revealed significant gender differences with female health care professionals scoring higher than male health care professionals on Occupational Stress, Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, Reduced Personal Accomplishment, Physical Work Fatigue, Emotional Work Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, Emotion Focused Engagement Coping, Engagement Coping, Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness in a majority of groups. In comparison to health care professionals practicing in private sector hospitals, public sector health care professionals scored significantly higher on Occupational Stress, Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, Reduced Personal Accomplishment, Burnout, Mental Work Fatigue, Work Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, Emotion Focused Disengagement Coping, Disengagement Coping and Neuroticism in a majority of groups. Private sector health care professionals were higher on Extraversion. The relationship between the aforesaid variables was also explored. Overall, Occupational Stress and Burnout were found to be significantly and positively related with Work Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, Disengagement Coping and Neuroticism. Results also revealed that Occupational Stress and Burnout were negatively related to a positive perception of Quality of Work Life and Engagement Coping in some groups.