Gender Differences in Stress- and Burnout-Related Factors of University Professors

Laura Redondo-Flórez,Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez,José Francisco Tornero-Aguilera,Domingo Jesús Ramos-Campo,Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães Abreu

doi:10.1155/2020/6687358

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyse the gender differences in stress-related factors of university professors. A cross-sectional study was carried out, where gender differences in psychological, nutrition, physical activity, and oral health stress-related factors were analysed in 470 Spanish university professors (58.7% male and 41.3% female, 42.1 ± 9.2 years) through a compendium of questionnaires. The results showed how females presented significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher scores than males in perceived stress (females: 22.15 ± 4.40 vs. males: 19.69 ± 3.61), emotional exhaustion (females: 20.86 ± 9.51 vs. males: 16.44 ± 9.12), and neuroticism (females: 5.53 ± 1.97 vs. males: 4.77 ± 1.96). These results may be related to higher probabilities to suffer the burnout syndrome, showing possible physical symptoms of this psychological disorder such as dry mouth and gastritis or heartburn. We concluded that female professors presented higher burnout perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and neuroticism levels than males. Females also presented higher dry mouth, gastritis, and heartburn than males. Female professors showed healthier nutritional habits than males, presenting higher consumption of milk products and fruit per day, a higher number of meals, and less eating between hours and fried food consumption. Nevertheless, females consumed fewer water glasses and practised less weekly sport than male professors.

Highlights

Stress is a phylogenetic response triggered when a possible threat is perceived [1]
The hypothalamic response will lead to a release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) factor, which binds to CRH receptors on the anterior pituitary gland, releasing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); receptors on the adrenal cortex stimulate the adrenal release of cortisol
The educational context could be understood as stressful sustained stimuli, since burnout syndrome is a common psychopathology among this collective [6]

Summary

Introduction

Stress is a phylogenetic response triggered when a possible threat is perceived [1]. Stressors could be either external (from the context/environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, regeneration, recovery, and return to homeostasis processes). Stress may initiate the “fight or flight” response, implying a complex reaction of neurologic, endocrinologic, psychological, cognitive, and behavioural modifications, mostly regulated by the hypothalamuspituitary-adrenal (HPA) gland axis and the autonomous nervous system [1, 2]. The autonomous nervous system is modulated, eliciting a sympathetic activation, leading to an increase of the heart rate, blood glucose, and blood pressure [3]. The educational context could be understood as stressful sustained stimuli, since burnout syndrome is a common psychopathology among this collective [6]. Burnout syndrome was defined as a typical labour stress form in which three dimensions were present: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low professional accomplishment [7]. Burnout syndrome and different personality traits which may predispose to this syndrome could be measured

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