Περίληψη:
Background: Few studies have examined the relation between alexithymia
(i.e. the inability to recognize and verbalize emotions) and
professional burnout. Considering the absence of relevant studies in the
Greek scientific literature, the aim of this work was to examine the
associations of alexithymia with the three facets of professional
burnout, the perception of family support and depression in nursing
personnel.
Methods: The study was performed in one of the largest hospitals in
Greece and included 95 nurses. Assessments of alexithymia, burnout,
depression and family support were made by means of the Toronto
Alexithymia Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Beck Depression
Inventory and the Julkunen Family Support Scale, respectively. Student’s
t-test, Pearson’s correlation and stepwise linear regression were used
for the evaluation of data.
Results: Alexithymia was correlated positively with depression,
emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and negatively with sense of
family support and personal achievement. Additionally, family support
was correlated positively with personal achievement and negatively with
depression.
Conclusion: In the scientific literature there is a debate as to whether
alexithymia is a stable personality characteristic or if it is dependent
on symptoms of mental disorders. We tried to interpret the associations
of alexithymia with professional burnout, depressive symptoms and family
support. From this study it appears very likely that alexithymia is
directly associated with depression and personal achievement, but also
indirectly with the sense of family support.
Συγγραφείς:
Bratis, Dionisios
Tselebis, Athanasios
Sikaras, Christos and
Moulou, Aikaterini
Giotakis, Konstantinos
Zoumakis, Emmanuel and
Ilias, Ioannis
