Psychological stress in nurses' relationships with HIV-infected patients: The risk of burnout syndrome

Abstract

To assess the role played by psychological stress and sociodemographic factors as predictors of burnout in nurses, we administered the AIDS Impact Scale (AIS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to nurses in the AIDS field. The sample was composed of 410 nurses from 19 departments for the treatment of infectious diseases. In these subjects we observed a low level of burnout in the MBI, but a small proportion had a high level of burnout We did not find significant associations between sociodemographic variables and the MBI scales. We found significant correlations between the MBI and three AIS scales that specifically assessed the emotional involvement of nurses in their relationships with patients. The results suggest that an empathic involved relationship seems to be protective towards burnout rather than a frustrating involved relationship. Moreover nurses tolerate stress better if they receive supportive social rewards. We found that the impact of working with HIV-infected patients causes psychological stress (measured with the AIS), but it is a weak predictor of burnout (measured with the MBI). The results indicated the incompatibility between the relational/defensive model of the AIS and the environmental/work performance model of the MBI.

How Caring for Persons with HIV/AIDS Affects Rural Nurses

“…This ability to identify with the patient has been shown to be protective against the risk of burnout in nurses caring for PWAs (Visintini et al, 1996). In contrast, the risk of burnout in caring for PWAs has been found to be higher when the nurse's relationship with PWAs causes negative feelings such as helplessness and powerlessness about the nurse's ability and self-esteem (Visintini et al, 1996).…”

“…Regardless of nurses' coping strategies, the intensity of caregiving needed to provide for the needs of PWAs has been linked to work overload, anxiety, and burnout in several studies (Bellani et al, 1996;Bennett, 1992;Bennett, Kelaher, & Ross, 1994;Kalichman et al, 2000). Working with PWAs contributes to psychological stress (Visintini et al, 1996) and caregiving to PWAs has been a predictor of burnout (Kalichman et al, 2000;Visintini et al, 1996).…”

“…At the same time, nurses working with PWAs have reported that co-workers who also cared for PWAs valued and supported the nurses' work (Reutter & Northcott, 1993). Both relationship with PWAs and the social reward received from the nurse's friends for caring for PWAs are protective against burnout related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (Visintini et al, 1996).…”

Interpersonal Conflict, Social Support, and Burnout among Home Care Workers in Japan

“…The number of home care workers 4) in health care professionals has been increasing since 1990s 5) . Health care professionals are reported to experience a high rate of burnout [6][7][8][9] , defined as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion and cynicism that occurs among the individuals in human services 10) . Interpersonal relationships with clients [11][12][13] , coworkers and supervisors 9,[14][15][16] have been receiving attention as a predictor of burnout 17) , besides job overload and job conflict 7,14,18) .…”

Burnout Experience of HIV Counseling Nurses

“…한 상담에 있어서도 HIV감염인과 같이 복잡하고 어려운 신체 적, 심리적 문제를 가지고 있는 대상자를 대면하는 상담자에 게는 소진이 더욱 심한 것으로 알려져 있다 (Visintini et al, 1996) …”