In order to determine the psychological, work and social dynamics of burn-out, it is necessary to highlight the multi-dimensionality of the phenomenon; in fact, there is no single cause but multiple causes that put a strain on an individual’s professional activity.
There are no ideal working conditions either at the organizational level or as freelancers; in fact, adaptability and flexibility are necessary in any situation. Job stress is often associated with staff turnover, low productivity, and increased staff demand. At the individual level, quality is greatly reduced due to physical and psychological strain. The stressed individual is placed in the area of psychosomatic risk, for example, the link between work stress, lack of control at work, and women’s risk of getting type 2 diabetes has been highlighted. In fact, stress can cause an individual to eat inappropriately, smoke more, and be irritable at work. In addition, work stress implies a distortion of communicative and relational effectiveness.
Empathy toward patients and listening and understanding skills are important for health care workers. One can guess, therefore, the sensitivity of the problem and the need to understand its causes. Some structures may create more tension, while others may provide more stimulation and offer the possibility of greater personal involvement. The analysis of the causes of burn-out cannot be separated from the historical context in which we live; in fact, today it is increasingly difficult to work calmly, without stress. At the corporate level, the organizational structure, general setup and levels of responsibility need to be studied. Some of the personality characteristics and predisposing factors for burn-out are:
- Excessive dedication to work
- Perfectionism
- Authoritarianism
- Excessive ambition and strong need to succeed
- Anxious personality
- Impulsivity
- Dependence on others
- Competitiveness
- Feelings of insufficiency and inability
- Low self-esteem
- Tendency to pessimism
Personality characteristics represent a grouping of functional modes that condition the individual’s interactivity. Confidence, self-mastery and optimism seem to be the determining factors in expanding one’s intellectual, physical and social resources.
Source: I don’t have time for… How it wears out care: health workers under stress by Ferdinando Pellegrino
