Alexithymia, traumatic stress symptoms and burnout in female healthcare professionals

Abstract

Objective The burnout syndrome represents a defence mechanism against stress and includes stages with decreased ability to experience feelings and emotional states. This finding suggests that burnout might be closely linked to emotional ‘blindness’ as a defence mechanism against negative and overwhelming emotions known as alexithymia. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between burnout syndrome, alexithymia, depression and traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare professionals. Methods This empirical study assessed female healthcare professionals who work with a population of patients with diabetes, utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSSMP), Burnout Measure (BM), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Traumatic Stress Checklist (TSC-40). Data were analysed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results A total of 114 female participants were included (age range, 31–60 years; mean age, 46.62 ± 8.71 years). Statistically significant associations were found between burnout syndrome (BM scores) and alexithymia (TAS-20) ( r = 0.41), and between BM scores and traumatic stress (TSC-40; r = 0.63). The MBI-HSSMP emotional exhaustion subscale also correlated with alexithymia (TAS-20) ( r = 0.37). Conclusion Findings of this study suggest that alexithymia and traumatic stress are related to burnout symptoms. This dynamic may be potentially useful for detecting and preventing burnout syndrome.

“Watching the tsunami come”: A case study of female healthcare provider experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…While participants appreciated the mindfulness tools their organisations promoted, they also cited a need for more practical resources to help them address the significant challenges that were contributing to their stress and burnout, as a result of COVID-19. Riethof et al (2020) illuminate the broader implications of stress and the nuanced relationship between burnout and alexithymia among FHCPs, which further indicate the need for healthcare organisations to deepen their understanding and resources designed to foster individual and team resilience and well-being. Beyond mindfulness, participants were looking for resources to facilitate social and emotional support, especially through peer-to-peer interactions, and pragmatic resources to support challenges with work-life balance, childcare, and other pressures FHCPs felt from their home life.…”

Mobile Phone Addiction Mediates the Relationship Between Alexithymia and Learning Burnout in Chinese Medical Students: A Structural Equation Model Analysis

“…One person’s stable personality trait 14 that might be a factor contributing to burnout among medical students is alexithymia, which has been defined by difficulties in identifying and describing feelings, difficulty in distinguishing between the bodily sensations of emotional arousal and feelings, and restrictions regarding imagination and externally oriented thinking. 15 Many studies confirm that alexithymia is a risk factor for burnout among works, 16 such as in healthcare professionals 17 and nursing assistants, 18 alexithymia was also found to be associated with the components of burnout, such as depersonalization. 19 However, few studies have focused on the relationship between alexithymia and burnout among students.…”

PPE for your mind: a peer support initiative for health care workers

“…Most importantly, it revealed that 1 in 50 doctors had attempted suicide in their lifetime and female doctors had a twofold higher rate of suicide compared with other female professionals. High levels of emotional exhaustion and cynicism have also been reported 2 . However, how and whether health professionals are adequately supported remains questionable.…”

“…High levels of emotional exhaustion and cynicism have also been reported. 2 However, how and whether health professionals are adequately supported remains questionable. As Dr Geoff Toogood, Founder of CrazySocks4Docs, recently said, "the time for action is now".…”