Relationship between Burnout and Type A Behavior Pattern in Spanish Social Workers

The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence of burnout and type A behavior pattern (TABP) among social workers in Spain and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic variables in a sample of 442 members of professional social workers' associations in Spain. The Spanish version of the Jenkins Activity Survey, form H (JASE-H) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used as instruments to measure TABP and burnout, respectively. Bivariate correlation test, analysis of variance, and logistic regression were carried out to analyze the data. The results showed that variables associated with TABP (competitiveness, hostility, impatience, and workload) increase the risk of burnout, with hostility and workload being identified as predictive risk factors. Gender differences impacted burnout, with women experiencing greater emotional exhaustion, while age and time in the job influenced type A behavior, with older age associated with heightened hostility and decreased workload, and longer time in the job linked to reduced competitiveness. Conducting this study was crucial to determine whether there are aspects of TABP that impact the development of burnout, in order to design interventions and prevention strategies that promote the health and well-being of affected individuals.