What is burnout syndrome?

Burnout syndrome is a type of chronic stress that has to do with job exhaustion. This exhaustion is caused by work and in turn produces chronic stress, lack of sense of achievement and even loss of personal identity.

Burnout syndrome

Burnout affects workers around the world

Jennifer Moss investigates this problem that affects the world of work. She says that 85% of workers around the planet feel that in recent years their well-being has fallen. According to her research, the world of work, after the pandemic, is burning out, which is why burnout is also called “burnout syndrome.”

According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is “chronic stress in the workplace that has not been successfully treated. It is characterized by feelings of exhaustion or low energy, negativity regarding employment, and reduced productivity.”

For psychology, it is emotional exhaustion, which entails constant depression and irascibility, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, excitement and insecurity. Also, this type of stress can cause physical disorders such as intestinal and muscular problems, and induces increased consumption of alcohol and tobacco, among other substances, which leads to low self-esteem.

Does burnout influence other aspects of a person’s life?

Experts also explore the possibility that stress derived from work obligations has a broader impact, affecting various aspects of an individual’s life. This concern becomes even more relevant when considering the possible problems that may arise in personal life, especially in relationships. The research focuses on understanding how work stress can have a broader impact on an individual’s overall well-being outside of the professional setting.

burnout syndrome

Since there is not much information about burnout, Israeli specialists began to conduct research. They studied several couples, both from Israel and the United States, and published their findings in the journal Social Psychology Quarterly.

For their on-site research, they designed a questionnaire. Thanks to the responses obtained, they discovered that burnout extends beyond the work area and is carried into the home, where it has an impact on life as a couple. It’s like a fire that devours everything.

It is contagious and can affect the relationship

For them, burnout is an issue that requires a lot of attention. Initially, burnout syndrome affects only work life, it is something one-dimensional. Although, when this exhaustion overwhelms life at work, it can have additional implications outside of work, which is why it must be studied in more depth.

Something that worries researchers the most is that it becomes a “contagious disease” in a couple. When work and emotional burnout interact, they can feed off each other and pass on to the second person in the couple. It is known that work burnout is contagious, and it can also be contagious outside of work.

Click to rate this entry!
(Votes: 0 Average: 0)
Share!

Leave a Comment