Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the levels of burnout syndrome in research assistant physicians who and demonstrate the relationship of burnout with sociodemographic variables and defense mechanisms. We hypothesized that burnout is associated with the use of immature and neurotic defenses, which try to maintain a psychological balance by exhibiting pathological and high-level anxiety.
Methods: We aimed to include all 156 research assistant physicians who were working at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü Imam University Medical Faculty Hospital during October 2017. A sociodemographic data form, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Defense Style Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Inventories were administered to all participants.
Results: Higher MBI-Emotional Exhaustion (EE) scores were associated with increased number of night shifts, being unwilling to study the selected specialty, and increasing working hours. There was a significant correlation between mature defense mechanism scores and MBI-Personal Accomplishment (PA) scores as well as immature defense mechanism scores and MBI-EE and MBI-Depersonalization (DP) scores.
Conclusion: A higher rate of burnout is encountered with the increased workload of doctors. The increased use of immature defense mechanisms increases the severity of these symptoms. To be able to combat this situation; it is necessary to organize seminars on sound defense strategies against the difficulties in business life and to set restrictions on working hours.
Key words: Burnout, Professional; Defense Mechanisms; Anxiety; Depression; Medical Specialties
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