Burnout: the Elaboration of a Stress-Related Syndrome

Abstract

Due to its damaging effects on staff performance, morale and turnover, the phenomenon of Burnout has become a topic of growing concern in the nursing profession since it was first described in the 1970's. Though a proliferation of descriptive and qualitative studies has been reported, relatively few quantitative studies have been undertaken with psychometrically sound instruments. The aims of the present study were therefore two-fold. Firstly, to assess and develop suitable instruments in questionnaire form to measure nurse burnout. Psychological Stress, Nursing Situation Stress and Coping strategies within the New Zealand Hospital context, and secondly, to administer these psychometrically sound questionnaires to a substantial group of Registered Nurses in a large metropolitan hospital, with the aims of identifying the factors which are related to burnout in the nursing environment, and of elaborating the nature of Burnout as a stress-related syndrome. The results, derived from the responses of 224 Registered Nurses showed that those who were most susceptible to an Emotional Exhaustion component of Burnout were characteristically young, full-time and single, with more limited nursing experience. These nurses experienced high Nursing Situation Stress, and Psychological Stress, to which they responded with inappropriate Emotion-focused Cognitive Coping strategies. In contrast to this group were older nurses who tended to report a Lack of Personal Accomplishment component of Burnout, together with high Somatic Distress and the use of more effective Problem-focused Behavioral Coping strategies. In general, these findings are in accord with those of past researchers. A multiple linear regression equation and a three-dimensional (three-factor) model of Burnout were developed, both of which clearly demonstrated that Burnout may confidently be regarded as a stress-related syndrome. Suggestions for remedies to the nurse Burnout problem, derived from the three-dimensional model were briefly presented and avenues for future research were outlined.