title: Work situation and self-perceived economic situation as predictors of change in burnout--a prospective general population-based cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sick leave rates due to mental and behavioural disorders have increased in Sweden during the last decades. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate changes in the level of burnout in a working subset of the general population and to identify how such changes relate to changes in work situation and self-perceived economic situation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 1000 persons from a subset of the 2004 northern Sweden MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) general population survey was followed over a five-year period (2004-2009). In total, 623 persons (323 women and 300 men) were included in the analysis. Burnout levels were measured at baseline and follow-up using the Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire. Risk factors were assessed at both measuring points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the whole study cohort, a small (-0.15) but statistically significant reduction in burnout level was found. No differences in change of burnout were found between men and women. Constant strain at work, an increased risk of unemployment, and a perceived worsening of economic situation during the study time period were related to an increased burnout level. An accumulation of these risk factors was associated with increased burnout level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk factors in work situation and self-perceived economy are related to changes in burnout level, and special attention should be directed towards persons exposed to multiple risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. sofia.norlund@envmed.umu.se.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norlund
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. christina.reuterwall@jll.se.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reuterwall
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. jonas.hoog@soc.umu.se.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Höög
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. urban.janlert@epiph.umu.se.
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Janlert
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. lisbeth.slunga@envmed.umu.se.
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Slunga Järvholm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004467:Economics; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology