Saf Health Work.  2020 Sep;11(3):347-352. 10.1016/j.shaw.2020.05.009.

Do Low Self-Esteem and High Stress Lead to Burnout Among Health-Care Workers? Evidence From a Tertiary Hospital in Bangalore, India

• Johnson AR
• Jayappa R
• James M
• Kulnu A
• Kovayil R
• Joseph B

• KMID: 2506949
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2020.05.009

Abstract

Background
Low self-esteem can be an issue among health-care workers due to the hierarchical medical system. Health-care workers are also in a high pressure environment that can lead to stress and burnout. This study was conducted to estimate the proportion of health-care workers with low self-esteem, high stress, and burnout and the factors associated with these in a private hospital in Bangalore city.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included a random sample of health-care workers of various cadres – doctors, nurses, nursing aides, technicians, and workers in ancillary departments such as laundry, dietary, central sterile supply department, and pharmacy, with probability proportional to size. Rosenberg Scale for Self-esteem, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, and Shirom–Melamed Burnout Measure were used as study tools.
Results
Among the 306 health-care workers, there were high levels of low self-esteem (48.4%), stress (38.6%), and burnout (48.7%), with the lowest levels being among doctors. Those aged younger than 30 years had significantly lower self-esteem and greater stress.
Conclusions
Health-care workers with low self-esteem were nearly thrice more likely to suffer high stress, Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.84 (1.36–5.92), and those who were stressed had more than three times higher chance of experiencing burnout, OR = 3.6 (2.02–6.55). Path analysis showed that low self-esteem among health-care workers had a direct effect on burnout, as well as an indirect effect through stress (mediator variable). This study indicates the need for screening and counseling for low self-esteem, stress, and burnout as part of a periodic medical examination of all cadres of health workers.

Keyword

Burnout; Health-care workers; Self-esteem; Stress