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Stress, Health, and Burnout: Psychobiological Factors

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 24162

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Prof. Dr. Pablo Ruisoto Palomera

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Department of Health Science, Public University of Navarre, Calle Cataluña, s/n, 31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
Interests: psychological stress and health

Prof. Dr. Vicente Javier Clemente Suárez

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Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Interests: psychophysiology; psychology; stress; nutrition; physical activity
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Prof. Dr. Raúl Cacho Fernández

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Department of Health Science, Public University of Navarre, Calle Cataluña, s/n, 31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
Interests: psychological stress and immune problems

Prof. Dr. Israel Contador Castillo

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Deptartment of Basic Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, University of Salamanca, 37005 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: aging; dementia; mild cognitive impairment; memory; neuropsychology; Alzheimer’s disease; gerontology; health psychology; cognition disorders; clinical neuropsychology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A widely used definition of psychological stress is the perception of a lack of control to adapt to the demands of a situation, which is threatening to exceed the individual resources. Everyone is exposed to stressful situations. However, intensity, severity, and how we cope with these challenges, in the form of cognitive responses or appraisals for example, will deeply impact our health and resilience in the face of stress.

Stress is a central concept for understanding health. In fact, from an evolutionary perspective, our future depends on our ability to adapt to stressors. In this context, a number of endocrine–immune interactions that mediate the relationship between stress and health are already well documented.

This Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding the links between stress and health, including, but not limited to, the work environment involving family and formal caregivers. This Special Issue will contribute to improve health for workers and the general population. Empirical papers are encouraged, although, laboratory and fieldwork will be considered. Reviews covering new approaches to understanding the relationship between stress and health are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Pablo Ruisoto Palomera
Prof. Dr. Vicente Javier Clemente Suárez
Prof. Dr. Raúl Cacho
Prof. Israel Contador Castillo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

psychological burden
caregivers
burnout
stress
stress-related health problems
depression
resilience

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Research

13 pages, 395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Burnout and Self-Perceived Health in Spanish Occupational Therapists

by Rubén Juy, Ana Nieto, Israel Contador, Francisco Ramos and Bernardino Fernández-Calvo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010044 - 20 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2505

Abstract

(1) Background: There are few studies of burnout syndrome (BS) in occupational therapists (OTs), and protective factors for BS have received little attention in the scientific literature. This research aimed to estimate the prevalence of BS, characterize the associated psychosocial factors, and analyze their relationship with health in a sample of Spanish OTs. (2) Methods: A total of 127 therapists completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and other standardized questionnaires measuring: personality traits (reduced five-factor personality inventory, NEO-FFI), coping styles (Coping Strategies Questionnaire, CAE), work-family conflict (Survey Work-Home Interaction Nijmegen, SWING), professional factors (role ambiguity/clarity and modified role conflict questionnaires), and the perception of health (Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire). Several correlational and multiple regression analyses were performed to study the psychosocial predictors of burnout and its relationship with health perceptions. (3) Results: 15.8% of the professionals presented BS, with emotional exhaustion (EE; 38.7%) being the most compromised dimension. Neuroticism, role conflict, negative work-family interaction, and open emotional expression (OE) significantly predicted a higher EE. The main predictors of cynicism (CY) were being male, role conflict, and OE. Role conflict, role ambiguity and social support-seeking were significant predictors of reduced professional efficiency (PE). (4) Conclusions: A high percentage of OTs with BS suggests the need for increased awareness of the importance of this syndrome in the health community. It would be critical to consider the protective factors (i.e., emotional management, social support) that help promote OTs’ well-being and health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Health, and Burnout: Psychobiological Factors)

13 pages, 986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Burnout in International Medical Students: Characterization of Professionalism and Loneliness as Predictive Factors of Burnout

by Ivan P. Gradiski, Ana Borovecki, Marko Ćurković, Montserrat San-Martín, Roberto C. Delgado Bolton and Luis Vivanco

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031385 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5624

Abstract

Background: Burnout is a common mental problem in medical students. For those who are following medical studies abroad there is a higher risk of suffering this syndrome, due to the combination of academic stress and the stress derived from their new living situation. This study was performed with the purpose of testing the following hypothesis: in medical students enrolled in medical programs abroad, abilities associated with professionalism and family support play a protective role in the prevention of suffering burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb, where a fully English medical program is offered. The general version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-GS) was used as a dependent variable, while Jefferson Scales of empathy, teamwork, and physician lifelong learning and the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults were used as predictive variables. In addition, information related to sex, country of birth, native language, age, academic achievement, and living situation were collected in a socio-demographic form. Linear regression models were applied to identify predictors of burnout. Results: In a sample composed of 188 medical students (38 Croatians and 144 foreigners from 28 countries), 18% of the global score in the MBI-GS was explained by lifelong learning and family loneliness. A separate analysis for each domain of the MBI-GS allowed the creation of three models: the first model explained 19% of the variance of the “exhaustion” domain by “country of birth”, “living with parents”, “academic year”, and “cynicism”; a second model explained 24% of the variance of the “cynicism” domain by “academic year”, “empathy”, “lifelong learning”, and “exhaustion”; and finally, a third model explained 24% of the variance of the “professional efficacy” domain by “lifelong learning”, “family loneliness”, and “cynicism”. All obtained models presented an effect size between medium and large, as well as matching the required conditions for statistical inference. Conclusions: These findings confirm the important role that family plays as a source of support for medical students. Empathy and lifelong learning, two specific elements of medical professionalism, appear as protective factors in the prevention of burnout in international students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Health, and Burnout: Psychobiological Factors)

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11 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Studying a Double Degree in the Psychophysiological Stress Response in the Bachelor’s Thesis Defense

by Ana Ramírez-Adrados, Valentín E. Fernández-Elías, Silvia Fernández-Martínez, Beatriz Martínez-Pascual, Cristina Gonzalez-de-Ramos and Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1207; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031207 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2367

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of studying a single or double degree in the psychophysiological stress response and academic performance of university students in their bachelor’s thesis defense. We analyzed the autonomic stress response, cortical arousal, subjective distress perception, and the sense of objective and subjective academic fulfilment of 84 single-degree physiotherapy students and 26 double-degree sport sciences and physiotherapy students during their bachelor’s thesis defense. The results showed that the bachelor’s thesis defense was a stressful event for double-degree students, showing an activation of the sympathetic nervous system and presenting a higher autonomic habituation response for the double degree students compared to the single degree students. We found higher mean grades during the whole degree and higher grades in the written and oral bachelor’s thesis academic achievements for single-degree students compared to double-degree students. No significant differences were found between single-degree and double-degree students in subjective distress perception and cortical arousal. No correlation was found between academic performance variables and subjective distress perception, cortical arousal, and autonomic modulation variables. We conclude that the bachelor’s thesis defense produces a large anticipatory anxiety response in single-degree physiotherapy students and in double-degree sport sciences and physiotherapy students. Double-degree students showed higher levels of habituation and adaptability to the stressful event, with a better autonomic response. Academic achievements were significantly higher among single-degree students compared to the double-degree group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Health, and Burnout: Psychobiological Factors)

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19 pages, 981 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Resilience on Burnout Syndrome of Faculty Professors

by Blanca Rosa García-Rivera, Ignacio Alejandro Mendoza-Martínez, Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz, Jesús Everardo Olguín-Tiznado, Claudia Camargo Wilson, Mónica Fernanda Araníbar and Pedro García-Alcaraz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020910 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4813

Abstract

This research aims to describe the relationship between resilience and burnout facing COVID-19 pandemics. The sample was n = 831 lecturers and professors of a Mexican public university. This study is a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, explanatory, and ex post facto research using Structural Equations Modeling with latent variables under the partial least square’s method technique. We used the CD-RISC-25 and SBI questionnaires to measure resilience and burnout, respectively. Structural Equations Modeling (SEM–PLS) allowed the visualization of the exogenous variable (resilience) in endogenous variables (dimensions of SBI burnout: E9 guilt, E7 emotional exhaustion, E8 indolence, and E6 work illusion). To this day, there are very few previous studies that jointly analyze in Mexico the characteristics of resilience and burnout in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings show that resources availability has the strongest correlation with accomplishment in teaching, followed by cynicism and emotional exhaustion. These results have important professional implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Health, and Burnout: Psychobiological Factors)

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15 pages, 980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Relationships between Resilience and Turnover Intention in Chinese High School Teachers: Considering the Moderating Role of Job Burnout

by Fei Liu, Huaruo Chen, Jie Xu, Ya Wen and Tingting Fang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126418 - 13 Jun 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7224

Abstract

Background: With the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, online teaching time has been extended continuously. The changes in teaching methods, teaching conditions, and teaching environment have brought great pressure and difficulties in adjustment to teachers, which have led to a series of physical and mental problems such as negativity, lack of confidence, and depression. The long-term accumulation of these problems makes teachers’ turnover intention increasingly serious. Methods: Based on these premises, this study took 449 high school teachers in China as research objects and investigated the relationship between high school teachers’ resilience, job burnout, and turnover intention in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic. Results: The resilience of high school teachers had a significant negative predictive effect on job burnout and turnover intention (r = −0.473, p < 0.05; r = −0.283, p < 0.05), while job burnout had a significant positive predictive effect on turnover intention (r = 0.485, p < 0.05). At the same time, job burnout played a moderating role between resilience and turnover intention (λ = −0.019, p < 0.001). Discussion: This study suggests that society, schools, families, and individuals should adopt various strategies to improve teachers’ adaptability and relieve teachers’ job burnout, so as to solve the practical problem of teachers’ high turnover intention and ensure continuous improvement and healthy development of online teaching. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Health, and Burnout: Psychobiological Factors)

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