Professional stress and social support feelings, coping strategies, and burn-out of caregivers in care facilities for dependent elderly people.

Abstract

Caregivers in dependent elderly people facilities may develop a burn-out, but few studies have been conducted on the subject. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feelings of professional stress and social support, coping strategies and caregivers' burn-out including nurses, caregivers and medical psychologists, to identify the different coping strategies according to the burn-out level, and to analyze the links between burn-out, perceived work stress and perceived social support. Seven facilities were contacted, but only three sent back valid response questionnaires. Twenty-one caregivers completed the questionnaires (socio-demographic data, MBI, Brief Cope, SSQ6, JSS). Results showed a low level of burn-out and perceived stress and a satisfactory perceived social support. Functional coping strategies were used, especially by caregivers with lower burn-out level (positive reinterpretation) unlike caregivers with moderate or high burn-out level that used more dysfunctional strategies (substance abuse). Significant links were found between perceived work stress and emotional exhaustion, and between personal accomplishment, perceived social support and emotional exhaustion, and between perceived work stress and perceived social support. These results show the relevance of creating working groups for caregivers in stress situations. The groups help to develop or maintain functional coping strategies and provide adequate social support for the healthcare team. Taking into account burn-out improves caregivers' job satisfaction and care quality for the residents.