Burnout Syndrome

Burnout is defined in many ways. The following examples, by leading researchers in the field, are probably the most widely accepted:

Burnout: to deplete oneself. To exhaust one's physical and mental resources. To wear oneself out by excessively striving to reach some unrealistic expectation imposed by oneself or by the values of society. 1

. . . burnout is a process that begins with excessive and prolonged levels of job stress. The stress produces strain in the worker (feelings of tension, irritability and fatigue). The process is completed when the worker defensively copes with the job and becomes apathetic, cynical or rigid. 2

Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur among individuals who do "people work" of some kind. 3

Burnout Symptoms

The array of symptoms associated with burnout is extensive. Table 1 indicates some symptoms that have been identified in people classified as "burned out." These symptoms/characteristics are classified as physical, psychological, or behavioral. Physical symptoms are characterized by actual changes in physiological body functions. Psychological symptoms show themselves in the attitudes and feelings of the individual. Behavioral symptoms reflect those actions or behaviors manifested as a result of burnout.4

Although not every individual exhibits the same symptoms, some symptoms found in the research literature are: (1) low job performance/low job satisfaction, (2) physical exhaustion/fatigue, (3) rigidity to change/loss of flexibility, (4) decreased communication/withdrawal, (5) physical symptoms, (6) apathy/ loss of concern, (7) cynicism, and (8) emotional exhaustion.5

Table 1. Individual burnout symptoms. Physical Psychological Behavioral Physical exhaustion/fatigue Rigidity to change/loss of flexibility Low job performance/low job Depression Loss of concern and feelings/apathy satisfaction Insomnia or sleeping more than usual Cynicism/negativism Decreased communication/withdrawal Headaches Emotional exhaustion/loss of emotional High job turnover/leave position Gastrointestinal problems/ulcers control Increased absenteeism Lingering colds/frequent colds/flu Low morale/sense of futility Loss of enthusiasm for job Weight loss or gain Loss of patience/irritable Increased drug use Shortness of breath Inability to cope with unwanted Increased marital and family Hypertension stress conflict High cholesterol Feelings of anger/bitterness/resent- High alcohol use Coronary disease ment/disgust Lack of focus on job/lack of Impaired speech Boredom purpose and priorities Sexual dysfunction Reduced self-concept Accident proneness Dehumanizing clientele/labeling Increased complaints about job Loss of idealism/disillusion Forgetfulness/poor concentration Frustration Workaholism Inability to make decisions Feeling of powerlessness Suspicion/paranoia Guilt feelings/feelings of failure Depression Alienation Increased worry Over-confidence/taking unusually high risks Stagnation Feelings of being everything to everyone/omniscient Loss of charisma Adapted from a compilation of research by Don Unger, "Superintendent Burnout: Myth or Reality" (Ph.D. dissertation, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 1980.)

Burnout Model

The model in Table 2 summarizes the burnout process. Individuals bring their own personalities, self-concepts, goals, ideals, and levels of commitment to the work situation. They also come with some idea of how to respond to stress. The environment applies stress to the individual both inside and outside the work setting. It then becomes necessary to handle this stress through some type of coping mechanism. Individuals will be able to dissipate some or all of the stress at this point by means of personal or organizational strategies. Osipow and Spokane indicate that:

Stress becomes negative, resulting in strain, if the individual is not able to deal (cope) with stress well and restore stability. Prolonged instability, or intense and extreme instability, is likely to produce negative results.6

One of these negative results is burnout.

Table 2. Model for burnout. The individual The environment and its potential stressors Processing of stressors Strain Burnout Personality Self-concept Ideas/goals/level of commitment How he/she views and responds to stress Work Physical environment Emotional environment Load Role People contact Collegial social support Autonomy Outside work Physical environment Emotional environment Support Overall Balance Stressors are processed through the person and his/her coping skills Strain results from stress that is not handled appropriately Accumulated strain to the point of reducing a person's effectiveness | Some stressors are handled and dissipated without strain

do you know someone in your family suffering from Burnout Syndrome? I DO!