Emotional Exhaustion in Housewives and Alzheimer Patients' Caregivers: Its Effects on Chronic Diseases, Somatic Symptoms and Social Dysfunction.

Campos-Puente Campos-Puente,Borda-Mas Borda-Mas,Sánchez-Martín Sánchez-Martín,Avargues-Navarro Avargues-Navarro,Trigueros Trigueros,Aguilar-Parra Aguilar-Parra

doi:10.3390/ijerph16183250

Abstract

Background: Emotional exhaustion causes adverse effects in those who suffer from it. Housewives are not excluded. Domestic and care chores, which are considered to be sources of stress, increase when taking on the role of caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. Objective: To analyse the influence of emotional exhaustion, somatic symptoms and social dysfunction, based on the activity they carry out. Methodology: Cross-sectional survey. 193 women participated, of which: housewives (HWs) (n = 97), and Alzheimer’s patient caregiver-housewives (CHWs) (n = 96). The evaluation tools were: sociodemographic/working data questionnaire (ad hoc), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results: High rates of emotional exhaustion are observed, as well as an existing positive link between chronic diseases, somatic symptoms and social dysfunction. The structural model indicates that emotional exhaustion predicts the amount and extent of diseases, somatic symptoms and social dysfunction. The influence is higher in CHWs. Limitations: Sample procedure implemented at convenience; the variable of the grade of dependence of the Alzheimer’s patient caregiver was not included in the study. Conclusions: The domestic and care chores that HWs and CHWs carry out affect their health. Hence the need to develop psychoeducative programmes that are adapted to the particular needs of these women and focused on the different areas of their everyday lives.

Highlights

As a “three-dimensional syndrome characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishment” (Maslach and Jackson, 1981), has been an object of study of many investigations over the last few decades, due to its increasing importance and consequences
Taking all the foregoing into account, the general objective of this study is to find out the influence that emotional exhaustion has on chronic diseases, somatic symptoms and social dysfunction in housewives and Alzheimer’s patient caregiver housewives
The sample was made up of 193 women, divided into: housewives (HWs) (n = 97) and Alzheimer’s patient caregiver housewives (CHWs) (n = 96), all belonging to the Confederación Andaluza de Asociaciones de Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer

Summary

Introduction

As a “three-dimensional syndrome characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishment” (Maslach and Jackson, 1981), has been an object of study of many investigations over the last few decades, due to its increasing importance and consequences. This syndrome is considered to be an important risk factor for both physical and mental health, with consequences in the sufferer’s family and working life. Maslach and Leiter [2] define exhaustion as feelings of excessive physical and emotional demands They are the result of daily contact with the patients they provide service to, which entails a state of exhaustion that drains their personal resources. The evaluation tools were: sociodemographic/working data questionnaire (ad hoc), Maslach

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