Job burnout and its relation with personality traits among the midwives working in Isfahan, Iran

BACKGROUND Health-related professionals are at high risk of job burnout which will in turn lead to effects on health services provision. The present study was conducted to define job burnout and its association with personal characteristics among the midwives working in Isfahan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive correlational study was performed on 193 midwives working in health centers and hospitals in Isfahan. The participants were selected through cluster random sampling. The data was collected by a researcher-made personal characteristics questionnaire as well as Maslach Burnout Inventory. The data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests in SPSS. FINDINGS In the present study, the highest frequencies of job burnout dimensions were for the low levels of emotional exhaustion (58%) and depersonalization (65.8%), and high levels of personal performance (58%). There was a significant inverse association between age and depersonalization (p = 0.02). However, no significant relations were found between job burnout dimensions and variables of marital status, number of children, level of education, and residential status. CONCLUSIONS Although the results of this research showed a low prevalence of job burnout among midwives, the stressful nature of midwifery as a profession necessitates educational intervent.