Burnout development among dentists: a longitudinal study.

Full Abstract

Knowledge on the development of burnout among dentists is important for purposes of prevention and intervention. Using a two-wave longitudinal design, this study examined the chronological sequence of the three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: emotional exhaustion; depersonalization; and personal accomplishment. Structural Equation Modelling was employed among a representative sample of Dutch dentists to examine the fit of several models proposed in earlier research. The results indicated that a model in which emotional exhaustion precedes depersonalization, which in turn precedes personal accomplishment, shows an adequate fit among dentists. However, an alternative model, in which personal accomplishment precedes emotional exhaustion, had an even better fit. In addition to the test of these a priori models, an ad hoc model was constructed that best fitted the current data. This model indicated emotional exhaustion to precede the development of depersonalization and personal accomplishment independently. Although not univocal, the results showed that emotional exhaustion should not be discarded as an early sign of burnout. This is in line with the view that emotional exhaustion can be considered as the key dimension of burnout.

Author information

Author/s: Te Brake, Hans (H); Smits, Niels (N); Wicherts, Jelte M (JM); Gorter, Ronald C (RC); Hoogstraten, Johan (J);

Affiliation: Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam/Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. h.tebrake(-atsign-)amc.uva.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: European journal of oral sciences (Eur J Oral Sci), published in Denmark. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Dec; vol 116 (issue 6) : pp 545-51

Dates: Created 2008/12/03; Completed 2009/04/02;

PMID: 19049525, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 4/2/2009, IMS Date: 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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