Cynicism as subscale of burnout.
BACKGROUND
Cynicism, as a personality trait, has adverse effects on health. The question was asked whether cynical attitudes that develop due to work-related stress correlate with stress levels and whether it has a negative influence on health.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate associations of the cynicism subscale scores of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) with levels of stress, anxiety, questionnaire-based physical health and with a number of physiological health risk indicators.


METHODS
Cynicism, anxiety, questionnaire-based physical health scores, as well as allostatic load, heart rate variability and C-reactive protein, were assessed in 27 males working between 40 and 80 irregular hours per week.


RESULTS
Cynicism scores related to stress levels (r = 0.411, p = 0.030). Effects of work-related cynicism on physical health were suggested by negative associations with questionnaire-based scores on physical health (r = -0.383, p = 0.044) and heart rate variability indicators (r = -0.379, p = 0.047 to r = -0.496, p = 0.007), and by positive associations with anxiety levels (r = 0.408, p = 0.031), heart rate (r = 0.449, p = 0.017), BMI (r = 0.426, p = 0.024) allostatic load (r = 0.360, p = 0.065) and levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (r = 0.407, p = 0.035).


CONCLUSIONS
Cynicism, as reflected by the MBI-GS, increases with increased stress levels and could contribute to the decline in the health reported for burnout.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Margaretha
M
Viljoen
School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Nicolaas
N
Claassen
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002097:C-Reactive Protein
Cynicism; health; stress; workplace