Relationship between burnout and assertiveness in female nurses with preschool-age children in Japan

DOI: 10.5176/2315-4330_WNC18.42

Authors: Akiko Maruyama, Eiko Suzuki, Yuko Takayama, Kyoko Sato, Junna Kunii

Abstract:

Aim: We aimed to clarify the relationship between burnout and assertiveness in female nurses with preschool-age children in Japan. Methods: The directors at 24 hospitals agreed to cooperate with our study. During a one-month period from October to November 2014, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 832 female nurses with preschool-age children. The Japanese version of Burnout Inventory (MBI) and a visual analog scale (0 to 100mm) for assertiveness used as scales. Burnout was operationally defined as a total MBI score in the highest tertile. Results: We obtained valid responses from 528 nurses who had consented to join the study. 178 (33.7%) of the subjects had experienced burnout. In the scale for assertiveness, 116 of the subjects were “very low” (0 to 25 mm), 138 of the subjects were “somewhat low” (26 to 50 mm), 163 of the subjects were “somewhat high” (51 to 75 mm) and 107 of the subjects were “very high” (76 to 100 mm). Chi-square analysis indicated the significant differences in relationship between burnout and assertiveness in female nurses with preschool-age children in Japan. The weaker self-assertion, the easier it is to burn out. Conclusions: Female nurses with preschool-age children in Japan tend to burn out easily if their assertiveness was “very low”.

Keywords: burnout, assertiveness, female nurses, work-life balance