The effect of experiencing burnout syndrome on health workers' psychological resilience and the defense mechanisms they use

The study was conducted to determine the effect of burnout syndrome experienced by healthcare workers on their psychological resilience levels and the defense mechanisms they use. The population of the study consisted of all healthcare professionals (nurses and physicians) working at Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital operating in the center of Tokat province. Two hundred and twelve nurses and ninety-three physicians working in the institution on March 22, 2023 and June 15, 2023 who volunteered to participate in the study constituted the sample group. The data of the study were obtained by personal information form, Maslach Burnout Scale (MBS), Adult Psychological Resilience Scale (APS) and Defense Styles Test-40 (DST-40). IBM SPSS V25 program was used in the evaluation of our research data. Cronbach Alpha values were used to calculate the reliability of the scales used in the study. The data were tested for normality and according to the results of Kolmogorov-Smirnov analysis, it was determined that the data did not show normal distribution (p<0.05). Mann-Whitney U (MWU) and Kruskal-Wallis H (KWU) tests were used to determine the differences between the groups. Spearman Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the scales. In addition, frequency values of all statements and variables were analyzed. In the study, a statistically negative and high level relationship was found between ITS and YPSÖ; a statistically negative and high level relationship was found between ITS and SBT-40; and a statistically significant relationship was found between burnout level and age, gender, education level, marital status, presence of chronic disease, living with family, presence of a dependent with chronic or psychiatric disease in the family, diagnosis of depression or adjustment disorder, smoking, alcohol or substance use status and the unit of employment. It was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between the level of psychological resilience and gender, educational level, occupation, unit of employment, presence of chronic illness, presence of a dependent with psychiatric illness in the family, smoking, alcohol or substance use. It was found that there was a statistically significant relationship between defense mechanisms and years of employment, gender, educational status, occupation, unit of employment, presence of psychiatric diagnosis, presence of a dependent in the family, smoking, alcohol or substance use, and the number of cigarettes used per day. It was determined that the descriptive characteristics of healthcare workers may be effective on burnout, psychological resilience and defense mechanisms. It is thought that it is important to take these characteristics into consideration in interventions that will reduce the burnout level of healthcare workers, increase the level of psychological resilience and enable them to use defense mechanisms that will support effective coping.