[The relationship between burnout, personal traits, and the work environment of caregivers in group homes]

This study aimed to identify the relationship between burnout, personal traits, work environment, and the stress coping skills of caregivers in group homes (GH) for elderly patients with dementia.

An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 600 caregivers working in 47 GH in Fukuoka Prefecture. Three hundred and thirty-three responses were analyzed. The questionnaire gathered information on burnout, personal traits, work environment, and stress coping skills. The modified Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was applied.

The mean age of the subjects was 42.5 years. The 2 main employment statuses were full-time worker (75.4%) and temporary worker (22.8%). The annual income of 178 (53.5%) subjects was less than 2 million yen. Most of them (80%) harbored job insecurity with regard to the future. The mean scores for 3 MBI elements-emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment-were 14.3, 11.2, and 16.1, respectively. After adjusting for personal traits and work environment, burnout was found to be significantly associated with the difficulties perceived by caregivers, and was composed of 4 factors: conflict with the GH residents, support system at the workplace, conflict among staff members, and a sense of being burdened. The elements of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were also related to the subjects, while the element of reduced accomplishment was related to their active coping levels.

The burnout status of caregivers in GH is associated with their perceived difficulties in daily care work. This finding suggests that these caregivers require individual support to cope with the difficulties involved in their daily care work as well as to improve their work environment.