gms | German Medical Science

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the burnout in Croatian nurses with the emphasis on possible gender and age differences and to compare with the burning of Croatian Teachers. (Domović at all, 2010).

Methods: A convenience sample of 119 employed nurses have participated in this study. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (Maslach et al., 1996) was used to collect data in this study. The Croatian version of this scale each of 22 item on the Scale represent a work-related feeling in theoretical framework of the three components of burnout: (1) emotional exhaustion, (2) depersonalisation and (3) personal accomplishment.

The raw data was compiled, and analysed using the statistical package SPSS 19. An analysis of the scale’s psychometric properties, including reliability (Cronbachs α), and factor analysis were conducted The results are presented in light of the psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the factorial structure of the MBI for the Croatian sample of nurses.

Results: Descriptive analysis shows that the Croatian nurses experience more stress and overexertion then Croatian teachers. With regard to the depersonalization score, however, the Croatian nurse sample scored a highest score, then Croatian teachers (Domović at all, 2010). Age was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion indicating that as nurses’ age increased their levels of emotional exhaustion decreased. In addition, emotional exhaustion was positivelly related with depersonalization, meaning that with increased emotional exhaustion there is the inclination in depersonalization in Croatian nurses.

Conclusions: Differences in gender and age for two components of burn out there were no significant differences in all three burnout dimensions regarding the nurses sample in this study.