Do Personality Characteristics Constitute the Profile of Burnout-Prone Correctional Officers?

Stanislava Harizanova; Rumyana Stoyanova; Nonka Mateva

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.328

Authors

Stanislava Harizanova Medical University of Plovdiv, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Hygiene and Ecomedicine, Plovdiv
Rumyana Stoyanova Medical University of Plovdiv, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Plovdiv
Nonka Mateva Medical University of Plovdiv, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Medical Informatics, Biostatistics and E-learning, Plovdiv

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2018.328

Keywords:

burnout, correctional officer, Eysenck personality questionnaire, Maslach burnout inventory, prison staff

Abstract

AIM: This study examined the relationship between personality characteristics and burnout syndrome among Bulgarian correctional officers.

METHODS: The cross-sectional study took place through individual, voluntary and anonymous interviewing of 307 employees from three district prisons. Maslach burnout inventory, Eysenck personality questionnaire and demographic characteristics were administered.

RESULTS: The personality predictors of emotional exhaustion were low emotional stability and low level of dimension extraversion. The predictors of depersonalization were high levels of neuroticism and psychoticism and low level of extraversion.

CONCLUSION: This research helps to identify employees who are at risk for developing burnout as a result of their personalities. In Bulgaria, there is still no official information about studies in this area.

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