ANTECEDENTS OF THE IMPAIRED NURSE: BURNOUT, DEPRESSION AND SUBSTANCE USE AMONG STUDENT NURSES (SOCIAL SUPPORT, ATTRIBUTION).
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 158
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Work related stress in developing professionals can lead to burnout, depression and substance abuse. These dysfunctions can be mediated by differences in social background characteristics, social support and personal attribution style. This study explored the level of burnout, depression and substance use among student nurses.

The study employed a cohort-sequential longitudinal design which included two waves of cross-sectional data from sophomore, junior, and senior classes (n = 272 for wave I) (n = 307 for wave II) and a matched panel (wave III) from the sophomore and junior classes which was tested a year later (n = 89). Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires which included the Staff Burnout Scale for Health Professionals (SBS-HP), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Drinking and Drug Consumption, Social Support and Attribution Style.

The major findings from this study were: The majority of students reported levels of staff burnout that were in the high range as measured by the SBS-HP. The level of experienced burnout--Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization--increased with year in school. The majority of students reported symptomatology that suggested they were at risk for clinical depression. The level of depressive symptoms did not increase with year in school. The correlations between the burnout measures and the depression measure suggested that while depression may be part of burnout, it is not the same construct. The prevalence of alcohol use was comparable to that of the use by young adult women nationally while the prevalence of the use of marijuana and other substances was lower that the national estimates. The use of illicit substances yielded a high prediction that the student also used alcohol. The level of Personal Accomplishment (MBI) was higher and the level of depression lower for those students who reported greater social support in their environment. Students who were typical college age, white and single were more likely to have a strong social support system. The levels of Depersonalization (MBI) and Emotional Exhaustion (MBI) were higher for those students who made external attributions. The level of Personal Accomplishment (MBI) was higher for those students who made internal attributions. The levels of Depersonalization (MBI), Emotional Exhaustion (MBI) and depression were higher for those students who felt unique and isolated. The level of Personal Accomplishment (MBI) was higher and the level of depression was lower for those students who reported active involvement in self-care coping strategies.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-08, Section: B, page: 2623.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1985.

School code: 0806.