Investigating correlation between Alexithymia and Demographic variables with job burnout among nurses

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between alexithymia and demographic variables with job burnout among nurses. Methods: This descriptive-correlation study was conducted on 190 nursing students (78 males and 112 females) from nursing students studying in city of Tehran universities in 2009. The students were randomly selected and they answered the Tedim job burnout inventory and Toronto alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20). Descriptive statistics methods, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: Results of this study showed that job burnout among demographic variables with age and level of education had a positive and significant correlation. It showed that socioeconomic status is negatively correlated with burnout (r=-0.23, P<0.05). Alexithymia with low level of job burnout (r=0.38, P<0.001) and high level of job burnout had a negative and significant correlation (r=0.33, P<0.001). Regression analysis showed job burnout by age, level of education, socioeconomic status, difficulties in identifying feelings, difficulties describing feelings and externally-oriented thinking (P=0.001). Conclusion: Alexithymia and demographic variables are important factors in job burnout and these factors can account for a high amount of variance in job burnout. Knowledge about the relationship between alexithymia and demographic variables and job burnout could help nurses towards protecting and promoting mental health.