Estudo da Síndrome de Burnout nos bombeiros voluntários portugueses

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to a better knowledge of the Burnout syndrome within the Portuguese Firefighter Volunteers. The Burnout syndrome is a pathology which consists in the presence of prolonged stress response in the individual, in that stressful factors, emotional and interpersonal, are the result of work, that includes chronic fatigue, inefficiency and denial. It will also refer to the relation between Burnout, Job-Demands-Control (JDC) and Satisfaction with Social Support (ESSS). The investigation follows the model of analytical epidemiological studies used to exam associations formed by hypothesis of casual relation. It was conducted an empirical study, following the model of analytical epidemiological study, cross-sectional type ie cross and prevalence.The study technique adopted was the questionnaire, and for the Burnout evaluation was used the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS), of Masclach et al 67, the Scale of Job Demands and Control (JDC) of Karasek7 , adapted by Castanheira161, and the Scale of Satisfaction with Social Support (ESSS) 100. The study focused a total population of 791 firefighters from various regions of the country (North, Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo and Algarve).The results showed that the proportion of firefighters with clinically significant Burnout was reduced, with only 4.68% of cases within the sample analized. The results obtained also led to the following conclusions: 1) the job demands contribute to an increase in Burnout levels in general, while, on the other hand, job control presents a positive contribution to the reduction of Burnout in general, as well as to exhaustion and depersonalization, and to the increase of working efficiency; 2) there is only a moderating effect of job control in the relationship between job demands and the cynicism/depersonalization dimension; 3) social support in general and its dimensions (Family, friends, intimacy and social activities) contributes to the promotion of professional effectiveness of firefighters and to reduce their levels of emotional exhaustion, cynicism/depersonalization and Burnout in general; 4) social support is a significant mediator in the relationship between job demands and emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, cynicism and Burnout in general, contributing to the decrease of the negative effect observed.