Burnout-Gefährdung in der Behindertenarbeit: Subjektive Gesundheitseinschätzungen der Beschäftigten geben Hinweise

Abstract

Background: In the past, various studies have shown that burnout plays a major role in the care of persons with disability. Unlike most investigations, this study asked participants for their subjective assessment in terms of their burnout risk and correlated them with factors which can play a role in the development of burnout at work. Methods: The data were from the BMBD study, in which 400 caregivers in residential facilities for people with disabilities in Germany were questioned. They were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods, tests of significance and regression analysis. Results and conclusion: The subjective idea of developing burnout in the foreseeable future primarily correlated to the working (time) conditions, but also to personal factors and the institutional framework. Stress and overburdening led to the feeling to develop a burnout. The groups that were especially at risk were 25- to 34-year-old caregivers, male caregivers without management function, and female executives. Because 83.3 % of caregivers who had experienced burnout in the past again feared a repeat burnout, early identification of risk structures in the workplace is of great importance as well as timely initiation of environmental prevention measures.