Burnout and its relationship with personality factors in oncology nurses

- A significant number of oncology nurses are suffering the most severe phases of burnout disorder.
- Oncology nurses with higher neuroticism, anxiety and depression disorders are more likely to develop burnout.
- Agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness can protect oncology nurses against burnout.
- Oncology nurses with rotating shift present higher Depersonalization.
- Women are more likely to suffer emotional exhaustion, while men may depersonalize more and feel less accomplished.

PurposeTo assess burnout levels in oncology nurses, to evaluate at what stage of burnout suffering they are and to analyze the relationship between burnout with personality factors.MethodA quantitative, observational, cross-sectional multicenter study was done. Oncology nurses (n = 101) from the Andalusian Health Service (Andalusia, Spain) were included. The main variables were personality factors, assessed with the NEO-FFI questionnaire, anxiety and depression, assessed with the Educational-Clinical Questionnaire: Anxiety and Depression, and burnout, evaluated with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Student t-statistic was used for hypothesis contrasts and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to establish the association between personality factors and burnout.ResultsAccording to the burnout phases model, 29.6% of the sample is in the most severe phases. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization are positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively correlated with agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness. Personal accomplishment has a negative correlation with neuroticism and negative correlations with agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness. Finally, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization have a positive correlation with anxiety and depression, while personal accomplishment has a negative correlation with anxiety and depression.ConclusionsA significant number of oncology nurses are in the most severe stages of burnout suffering. Personality factors have a key role in burnout development. The importance of personality factors in burnout development should be taken into account.