burnout syndrome or burnoutthe result of chronic stress in the workplace that has not been successfully managed, affects both women and men, but both present differences in symptoms: in them there are higher rates of “psychic and emotional exhaustion”, and in them they are of “indolence and cynicism”.
This was stated by the professor of Social Psychology and Organizations at the University of Valencia (UV) Pedro R. Gil-Monte after being asked about the case of the resignation of the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, who left office after assuring that he did not have “enough energy” to get on with the job.
Gil-Monte believes that stating that Ardern suffers from the syndrome would be “speculating” without having a prior diagnosis, although he indicates that from the perspective of his commitment to issues such as the pandemic or the Christchurch attacks in 2019 “it is possible that the exhaustion due to excessive work involvement may have influenced the decision you have made, and it could even be ventured that it responds to signs of symptoms of burnout syndrome or burnout“.
A “real” syndrome
burnout syndrome or burnout is “something real, a health problem specifically associated with the work context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life,” says the expert.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls it “occupational burnout syndrome” and defines it as “a result of chronic stress in the workplace that has not been successfully managed.” It is characterized by feelings of lack of energy or exhaustion; increased mental distance or negative or cynical feelings about work; and a feeling of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.
Although in some countries it is an occupational disease, in Spain it is considered a “work accident”, according to Gil-Monte, who affirms that its origin is chronic exposure to some unhealthy psychosocial working conditions and not for reasons of personal weakness or other personal conditions. Therefore, “it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s something outside of individual control.”
As indicated, in the case of workers who are stressed in their job and for whom it is difficult to find a new job, the health problem can intensify over time and the syndrome lead to more serious diseases such as depression and suicidal ideation.
Similar prevalence, different symptoms
According to Gil-Monte, the world of work has traditionally developed with masculine behavior patterns, a model that is still valid today, and in many work contexts and cultures “women are considered second-order human resources and sometimes as property that can be disposed of”.
“Labor discrimination against women is reflected in facts such as the wage gap, limitations on the development of a career, infantilizing paternalism or sexual and gender-based harassment at work,” he points out, adding that working under these conditions “contributes to the development of burnout syndrome at work”.
These attitudes “can also come from the people who are served or from the press that does not value the professional qualifications of women to the same extent that it values that of man. Some of those situations appear to have been experienced by the New Zealand Prime Minister,” she explains.
In labor relations, women develop a management style “more emotional and human”, participatory and collaborative, with the ability to delegate, dialogue, promote teamwork and offer social support, compared to the style used by men, characterized by an orientation towards exchange, authority and competition, “more impersonal and profit-oriented.”
Although the prevalence of the syndrome is similar in both sexes, depends on the profession in which differences are evaluated and observed at the level of symptoms, since women present higher rates of psychic and emotional exhaustion and men, higher rates of indolence and cynicism.
Most affected professions
This health problem develops more frequently in professions that require working with people and in direct contact with them, such as health, education, social services, caregivers, care workers for people with special needs or care centers for the elderly.
In many people the decision to dedicate themselves to these jobs is determined by a vocational component of helping otherss and makes them get involved in the problems of the people they serve, and sometimes feel guilty if they don’t.
“You go from the empathy necessary for these jobs to involvement in other people’s problems, assuming them as your own, to the point of taking other people’s problems home“warns the expert.