Temperament traits, social support, and burnout symptoms in a sample of therapists

Burnout is conceptualized as a multidimensional syndrome consisting of physical and emotional exhaustion, a decreased sense of personal accomplishment, and a tendency to evaluate oneself and one's work negatively. This article examines the severity of burnout symptoms and their relationship to temperament traits and social support in a large sample (n = 200) of therapists, selected from professional organizations for Gestalt and cognitive-behavioral therapists in Poland. Participants filled out 3 questionnaires: the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, the Formal Characteristics of Behavior-Temperament Inventory, and the Berlin Social Support Scale. The mean prevalence of particular burnout symptoms within the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory scales was calculated, the most frequent of which were "tired before work," "loss of commitment," "thinking about other jobs," and "lack of energy for work." The level of burnout symptoms among all therapists was related to temperament traits, briskness, and perseveration, as well as to perceived social support. Perseveration was associated with an increase in burnout symptoms, whereas perceived social support and briskness were related to a decrease in symptoms.