title: Internal and External Factors Related to Burnout among Iron and Steel Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Anshan, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy, which can result from long-term work stress. Although the burnout level is high among iron and steel workers, little is known concerning burnout among iron and steel worker. This study aimed to evaluate the burnout and to explore its associated internal and external factors in iron and steel workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in iron and steel workers at the Anshan iron-steel complex in Anshan, northeast China. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 1,600 workers, and finally 1,300 questionnaires were returned. Burnout was measured using the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). Effort-reward imbalance (ERI), perceived organizational support (POS), and psychological capital (PsyCap) were measured anonymously. A hierarchical regression model was applied to explore the internal and external factors associated with burnout.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean MBI-GS scores were 13.11±8.06 for emotional exhaustion, 6.64±6.44 for cynicism, and 28.96±10.39 for professional efficacy. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that ERI and POS were the most powerful predictors for emotional exhaustion and cynicism, and PsyCap was the most robust predictor for high professional efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese iron and steel workers have a high level of burnout. Burnout might be associated with internal and external factors, including ERI, POS, and PsyCap. Further studies are recommended to develop an integrated model including both internal and external factors, to reduce the level of ERI, and improve POS and workers' PsyCap, thereby alleviating the level of burnout among iron and steel workers.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Haiqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yilong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Baozhi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires