Burnout syndrome, occupational stress and quality of life among nursing workers

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of burnout syndrome and its correlation with occupational stress and quality of life among nursing workers. Method: Cross-sectional study addressing 502 nursing professionals from a philanthropic general hospital in the South of Brazil. Data were collected using an instrument addressing sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle characteristics, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life - WHOQOL-Bref. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: The prevalence of burnout syndrome was 20.9% and its dimensions were related to high demand, low control over work, low social support at work, and negative perceptions of physical, psychological, and social quality of life and of the work environment. Conclusion: Burnout syndrome was related to high levels of stress and a negative perception of quality of life among nursing workers.