Current Situation and correlation analysis on job burnout and mental health of college counselors in Shanghai City / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current situation and correlation between job burnout and mental health of college counselors in Shanghai City. METHODS: With stratified cluster random sampling method, 235 counselors were selected as study subjects. Their job burnout and mental health was investigated by using Burnout Inventory Educator's Survey and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. RESULTS: The median score of the 3 dimensions of emotional exhaustion, deindividualization and low sense of achievement of counselors was 3.4, 3.2 and 1.6, respectively. In each dimension, the ratio of moderate level job burnout was 93.2%, 94.9% and 26.8%, respectively; the ratio of high level job burnout was 6.8%, 5.1% and 73.2%, respectively. The median score of mental health was 31.0, and the grade of general, poor and very poor mental health standard was 2.6%, 35.3% and 62.1%, respectively. The scores of emotional exhaustion and deindividualization were positively correlated with the scores of mental health status(Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.54 and 0.44, all P<0.01). The score of low achievement was negatively correlated with the score of mental health status(Spearman correlation coefficient=-0.39, P<0.01). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the scores of emotional exhaustion and deindividualization had positive predictive value on mental health after excluding gender, spouse, age, length of service, educational level, position title, household registration, authorized strength, and university level(all P<0.01). Low achievement score had a negative predictive effect on mental health(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The job burnout in college counselors in Shanghai City is at a moderately high level and their mental health is poor. The job burnout affects their mental health. Alleviating job burnout is beneficial to improve counselors′ mental health.