Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
Emilia I. De la Fuente Solana, Raimundo Aguayo Extremera, Cristina Vargas Pecino and Gustavo R. Cañadas de la Fuente
Universidad de Granada
Background: Police work is currently one of the most stressful occupations. High levels of stress can culminate in suffering the burnout syndrome. This syndrome is characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and low personal accomplishment. Police officers, despite being a risk group, have been investigated less than other professional groups. The objectives of the current work are to estimate the prevalence of burnout syndrome in police officers, to present a classification of the syndrome and to identify some risk factors (socio-demographic, personality, and work-related). Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 747 national police officers from Andalucía (Spain). Results: The prevalence of burnout is high. Furthermore, individual differences, and in particular, personality factors, are important to explain the development of burnout. Conclusions: Police officers are a risk group and, therefore, actions aimed at reducing the levels of burnout among these professionals should be developed.
Prevalencia y factores de riesgo del síndrome de burnout en policías españoles. Antecedentes: el trabajo policial es uno de los más estresantes actualmente. Sufrir altos niveles de estrés puede provocar el desarrollo del síndrome de burnout. Este síndrome se caracteriza por cansancio emocional, despersonalización y baja realización personal. La policía, a pesar de ser un grupo de riesgo, ha sido menos investigada que otros colectivos profesionales. Los objetivos del presente trabajo son estimar la prevalencia del burnout en policías, presentar una clasificación del síndrome e identificar algunos factores de riesgo (sociodemográficos, de personalidad y laborales). Método: se realizó un estudio transversal con 747 policías nacionales de Andalucía. Resultados: la prevalencia del burnout es alta. Además, las diferencias individuales, especialmente, los factores de personalidad son importantes en la explicación del burnout. Conclusiones: los policías son un colectivo de riesgo y por esta razón se deberían desarrollar acciones para reducir los niveles de burnout en estos profesionales.
SPANISH
ENGLISH
https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2013.81