Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T21:52:48.678Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Job Satisfaction and Cortisol Awakening Response in Teachers Scoring high and low on Burnout

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Luis Moya-Albiol ,
Miguel Ángel Serrano  and
Alicia Salvador
Luis Moya-Albiol*
Affiliation:
Universitat de València (Spain)
Miguel Ángel Serrano
Affiliation:
Universitat de València (Spain)
Alicia Salvador
Affiliation:
Universitat de València (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Luis Moya-Albiol. Departamento de Psicobiologìa. Facultad de Psicologìa. Universidad de Valencia. Avenida Blasco Ibàñez, 21. 46010 Valencia. (Spain). Phone: +34-963864635. Fax: +34-963864668. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The burnout syndrome is an important psychosocial risk in the job context, especially in professions with a strong social interaction, as in the case of teaching. High levels of burnout have been related to negative psychological indicators and hormonal alterations. This study compares job satisfaction and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in teachers scoring high (HB) and low (LB) on burnout. HB teachers showed lower job satisfaction and no significant differences in the CAR when compared with the LB group. The results of the study suggest a general dissatisfaction with work along with a different functioning of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in HB teachers. Although non significantly, they showed a lower magnitude of the CAR than LB teachers. When considering the whole sample, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization correlated negatively and personal accomplishment positively with each subscale of the job satisfaction questionnaire whereas cortisol levels or CAR did not correlate significantly with both burnout subscales and job satisfaction. These results should be taken into account when working to prevent burnout in teachers, as the modified parameters could be considered indicators of the onset or development of the syndrome.

El sìndrome de estar quemado o burnout es un factor importante de riesgo psicosocial en el contexto laboral, especialmente en profesiones que tienen una alta interacción social, como es el caso de la enseñanza. En este sentido, altos niveles de burnout han sido asociados a indicadores psicológicos negativos y a alteraciones hormonales. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar la satifacción laboral y la respuesta matutina de cortisol en profesores con altas y bajas puntuaciones en burnout. Los profesores con altas puntuaciones en burnout mostraron menor satisfacción laboral que los de puntuaciones bajas, aunque no se encontraron diferencias significativas en la respuesta matutina de cortisol. Estos resultados sugieren que los profesores con altas puntuaciones en burnout tienen una estado general de insatisfacción en el trabajo, junto a una ligera alteración del funcionamiento del eje hipotàlamo-hipófiso-adrenal, ya que aunque las diferencias no alcanzaron la significación estadìstica, estos profesores mostraron menor respuesta matutina de cortisol que los de puntuaciones bajas. Al considerar toda la muestra, las subescalas de despersonalización y cinismo se asociaron negativamente mientras que la de eficacia profesional lo hizo positivamente con la satisfacción laboral. Por otro lado, no se obtuvieron correlaciones significativas entre los niveles de cortisol o la CAR y las diferentes subescalas de burnout o la satisfacción laboral. Estos resultados tienen que ser tenidos en cuenta para trabajar en la prevención de burnout en profesores, ya que los paràmetros alterados podrìan ser considerados como indicadores de la aparición o desarrollo del sìndrome.

Keywords

burnoutjob satisfactionawakening cortisol responseteachersexperimentburnoutsatisfacción laboralrespuesta matutina de cortisolprofesoresexperimento
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , November 2010 , pp. 629 - 636
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bellingrath, S., Weigl, T., & Kudielka, B. M. (2008). Cortisol dysregulation in school teachers in relation to burnout, vital exhaustion, and effort-reward-imbalance. Biological Psychology, 78(1), 104–113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Briken, P., Nika, E., Krausz, M., & Naber, D. (2002). Atypical neuroleptics in the treatment of aggression and hostility in schizophrenic patients. Fortschritte Der Neurologie-Psychiatrie, 70(3), 139–144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chida, Y., & Steptoe, A. (2009). Cortisol awakening response and psychosocial factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biological Psychology, 80(3), 265–278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooper, C. L., & Bramwell, R. (1992). Predictive validity of the strain components of the occupational stress indicator. Stress Medicine, 8, 56–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, C. L., Sloan, S. J., & Williams, S. (1988). The occupational stress indicator: Management guide. Windsor: NFER Nelson.Google Scholar
De Vente, W., Olff, M., Van Amsterdam, J. G., Kamphuis, J. H., & Emmelkamp, P. M. (2003). Physiological differences between burnout patients and healthy controls: Blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol responses. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60 Suppl 1, 54–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Vugt, M. E., Nicolson, N. A., Aalten, P., Lousberg, R., Jolle, J., & Verhey, F. R. (2005). Behavioral problems in dementia patients and salivary cortisol patterns in caregivers. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 17(2), 201–207.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards, S., Clow, A., Evans, P., & Hucklebridge, F. (2001a). Exploration of the awakening cortisol response in relation to diurnal cortisol secretory activity. Life Sciences, 68(18), 2093–2103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards, S., Evans, P., Hucklebridge, F., & Clow, A. (2001b). Association between time of awakening and diurnal cortisol secretory activity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26(6), 613–622.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faragher, E. B., Cass, M., & Cooper, C. L. (2005). The relationship between job satisfaction and health: A meta-analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62(2), 105–112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Federenko, I. S., Nagamine, M., Hellhammer, D. H., Wadhwa, P. D., & Wust, S. (2004). The heritability of hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis responses to psychosocial stress is context dependent. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 89(12), 6244–6250.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fries, E., Dettenborn, L., & Kirschbaum, C. (2009). The cortisol awakening response (CAR): Facts and future directions. International Journal of Psychophysiology: Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology, 72(1), 67–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grossi, G., Perski, A., Ekstedt, M., Johansson, T., Lindstrom, M., & Holm, K. (2005). The morning salivary cortisol response in burnout. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 59(2), 103–111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grossi, G., Perski, A., Evengard, B., Blomkvist, V., & Orth-Gomer, K. (2003). Physiological correlates of burnout among women. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 55(4), 309–316.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hazell, P. L., & Stuart, J. E. (2003). A randomized controlled trial of clonidine added to psychostimulant medication for hyperactive and aggressive children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(8), 886–894.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hellhammer, J., Fries, E., Schweisthal, O. W., Schlotz, W., Stone, A. A., & Hagemann, D. (2007). Several daily measurements are necessary to reliably assess the cortisol rise after awakening: State- and trait components. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 32(1), 80–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kirkcaldy, B. D., & Cooper, C. L. (1992). Managing the stress of change: Occupational stress among senior police officers in Berlin. Stress Medicine, 8, 219–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kudielka, B. M., Bellingrath, S., & Hellhammer, D. H. (2006). Cortisol in burnout and vital exhaustion: An overview. Giornale Italiano Di Medicina Del Lavoro Ed Ergonomia, 28(1) Suppl 1, 34–42.Google ScholarPubMed
Kudielka, B. M., Hellhammer, D. H., & Wust, S. (2009). Why do we respond so differently? reviewing determinants of human salivary cortisol responses to challenge. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34(1), 2–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Langan-Fox, J., & Poole, M. E. (1995). Occupational stress in australian business and professional women. Stress Medicine, 11, 113–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maslach, C. (1993). Burnout: A multidimensional perspective. In Schaufeli, W. B., Maslach, C. & Marek, T. (Eds.), Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research (pp. 19–32). Washington DC: Taylor & Francis.Google Scholar
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E. (1986). MBI: Maslach burnout inventory; manual research edition. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.Google Scholar
Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397–422.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melamed, S., Ugarten, U., Shirom, A., Kahana, L., Lerman, Y., & Froom, P. (1999). Chronic burnout, somatic arousal and elevated salivary cortisol levels. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 46(6), 591–598.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mommersteeg, P. M., Heijnen, C. J., Kavelaars, A., & van Doornen, L. J. (2008). The HPA-axis and immune function in burnout. Progress in Brain Research, 167, 281–285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mommersteeg, P. M., Heijnen, C. J., Verbraak, M. J., & van Doornen, L. J. (2006a). Clinical burnout is not reflected in the cortisol awakening response, the day-curve or the response to a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 31(2), 216–225.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mommersteeg, P. M., Heijnen, C. J., Verbraak, M. J., & van Doornen, L. J. (2006b). A longitudinal study on cortisol and complaint reduction in burnout. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 31(7), 793–804.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Osca, A., González-Camino, G., Bardera, P., & Peiró, J. M. (2003). Rol stress and its influence on physical and psychological well-being in professional soldiers. Psicothema, 15(1), 54–57.Google Scholar
Oshagbemi, (1999). Overall job satisfaction: How good are single vs. multiple-item measures? Journal of Managerial Psychology, 14, 388–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pruessner, J. C., Hellhammer, D. H., & Kirschbaum, C. (1999). Burnout, perceived stress, and cortisol responses to awakening. Psychosomatic Medicine, 61(2), 197–204.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pruessner, J. C., Wolf, O. T., Hellhammer, D. H., Buske-Kirschbaum, A., von Auer, K., Jobst, S. et al. , (1997). Free cortisol levels after awakening: A reliable biological marker for the assessment of adrenocortical activity. Life Sciences, 61(26), 2539–2549.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schwerdtfeger, A., Konermann, L., & Schonhofen, K. (2008). Self-efficacy as a health-protective resource in teachers? A biopsychological approach. Health Psychology: Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 27(3), 358–368.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shanfa, Y., Sparks, K., & Cooper, C. L. (1998). Occupational stress in workers and managers in steelworks in china. International Journal of Stress Management, 5, 237–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa-Poza, A, & Sousa-Poza, A. A. (2000). Well-being at work: A cross-sectional study of the levels and determinants of job satisfaction. Journal of Socio-Economics, 29, 517–538.Google Scholar
Tops, M., Boksem, M. A., Wijers, A. A., van Duinen, H., Den Boer, J. A., Meijman, T. F. et al. , (2007). The psychobiology of burnout: Are there two different syndromes? Neuropsychobiology, 55(3–4), 143–150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tops, M., Riese, H., Oldehinkel, A. J., Rijsdijk, F. V., & Ormel, J. (2008). Rejection sensitivity relates to hypocortisolism and depressed mood state in young women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33(5), 551–559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tops, M., van Peer, J. M., Wijers, A. A., & Korf, J. (2006). Acute cortisol administration reduces subjective fatigue in healthy women. Psychophysiology, 43(6), 653–656.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Humbeeck, G., Van Audenhove, C., & Declercq, A. (2004). Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among professionals in sheltered living in flanders. A pilot study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(7), 569–575.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wahbeh, H., Kishiyama, S. S., Zajdel, D., & Oken, B. S. (2008). Salivary cortisol awakening response in mild alzheimer disease, caregivers, and noncaregivers. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 22(2), 181–183.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wanous, J. P., Reichers, A. E., & Hudy, M. J. (1997). Overall job satisfaction: How good are single-item measures? The Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(2), 247–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Winefield, A. H., Tiggemann, M., & Goldney, R. D. (1988). Psychological concomitants of satisfactory employment and unemployment in young people. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 23(3), 149–157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wust, S., Federenko, I., Hellhammer, D. H., & Kirschbaum, C. (2000b). Genetic factors, perceived chronic stress, and the free cortisol response to awakening. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 25(7), 707–720.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wust, S., Wolf, J., Hellhammer, D. H., Federenko, I., Schommer, N., & Kirschbaum, C. (2000a). The cortisol awakening response - normal values and confounds. Noise & Health, 2(7), 79–88.Google ScholarPubMed