Burnout Syndrome Among Informal Caregivers For Old People

Abstract

The text deals with burnout syndrome among informal caregivers caring for old people in informal setting, usually at home. Burnout syndrome has been recognized in past decades as a big problem for people helping professions, especially where there is great responsibility, chronic stress and little autonomy. Important for coping successfully with factors leading to burnout are internal coping resources and social support. Our research was conducted in a sample of 458 caregivers. We employed quantitative research strategy with a self-completion questionnaire consisting of standardized inventories and our own set of questions. Standardized inventories were a) the Burnout Measure by Pines and Aronson, b) Barthel’s Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and c) Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The other part of the questionnaire comprised of a set of items measuring the ability of the senior to fulfil her basic needs, which is partially comparable to ADL and IADL; and of questions asking about the relationships of caregiver with her family, social support, motivation, information availability, using social services and the extent of care and the amount of free time. Results show that 22% of our sample show symptoms of burnout, and more than half is in risk. This is similar as in other helping professions. The main factors causing stress on the part of cared for senior is low self-sufficiency in most basic activities of hygiene, eating and clothing. From other factors the most important is long daily care and lack of support.