Alexithymia and occupational burnout are strongly associated in working population
Aino K Mattila1, Kirsi Ahola, Teija Honkonen
1Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. aino.mattila@uta.fi
Objective:
The relationship between alexithymia and occupational burnout has not previously been studied. We investigated the association between alexithymia and occupational burnout in a representative nationwide population health study.
Methods:
This study was a part of the Finnish Health 2000 Study. The nationally representative sample comprised 3322 employees aged 30-64 years. Alexithymia was measured with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and occupational burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. Sociodemographic and health-related variables including depression were treated as confounders in the logistic regression analyses, which were performed alternately with TAS-20 total score and the scores of the three TAS-20 factor scales as alexithymia variables.
Results:
Alexithymia and its three facets were significantly associated with occupational burnout even when controlled for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
Even though both alexithymia and depression are associated with burnout, alexithymia may be an independent risk factor for occupational burnout.
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as "workaholics," they...
Fundamental Attribution Error
Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory
Optimal Arousal Theory
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
