Affective and cognitive symptoms associated with burnout in a general population: are there sex-related differences?

Figures & data

Table 1. Numbers of respondents (and percentage of those invited) across age and sex strata.

Age (years)	Women	Men
18–29	307 (32.1)	179 (17.3)
30–39	266 (40.3)	177 (24.7)
40–49	288 (40.5)	230 (31.0)
50–59	367 (50.9)	295 (39.5)
60–69	405 (58.4)	356 (50.7)
70–79	265 (53.8)	271 (63.9)
18–79	1898 (45.2)	1508 (34.9)

Table 2. Participant characteristics in the burnout case and referent groups and the total sample.

	Case group (n = 620)	Referents (n = 2786)	Total (n = 3406)
Women, % (n)	67.1 (416)***	53.2 (1482)	55.7 (1898)
Age year, mean (SD)	48.82 (17.26)***	51.76 (16.71)	51.22 (16.85)
Married/living with partner, % (n)	67.9 (419)***	73.9 (2061)	72.8 (2480)
Children living at home <7 years, % (n)	15.7 (97)**	11.5 (320)	12.2 (417)
Children living at home 7–12 years, % (n)	11.3 (70) ^ns	9.8 (270)	10.0 (335)
Children living at home 13–17 years, % (n)	13.3 (82)^ns	11.3 (316)	11.7 (398)
University education, % (n)	39.3 (241)^ns	41.8 (1164)	41.3 (1405)
Physical exercise ≥ 2 times/week, % (n)	57.5 (347)***	68.5 (1908)	66.2 (2255)
Self-rated health, % (n)
Excellent	3.0 (18)*	12.3 (339)	10.6 (357)
Very good	14.0 (85)*	32.9 (907)	29.4 (992)
Good	31.3 (190)^ns	34.8 (962)	34.2 (1152)
Fairly good	39.8 (242)*	18.5 (512)	22.4 (754)
Poor	12.0 (73)*	1.5 (41)	3.4 (114)
HADS-A, mean (SD)	8.66 (4.20)***	3.57 (2.92)	4.46 (3.74)
HADS-D, mean (SD)	6.73 (3.97)***	2.36 (2.27)	3.13 (3.14)
PSS-10, (mean, SD)	21.01 (5.74)***	12.30 (5.14)	13.89 (6.24)
PHQ-15 percent (mean, SD)	35.36 (16.82)***	18.47 (13.84)	21.54 (15.83)
KSQ Sleep disturbance, mean (SD)	2.37 (.96)***	1.35 (0.76)	1.53 (.89)
Diagnosis^1, % (n)
Depression	17.9 (111)***	2.1 (59)	5.0 (170)
Exhaustion disorder	11.9 (74)***	2.5 (70)	4.2 (144)
Panic disorder	4.8 (30)***	0.7 (20)	1.4 (50)
Generalized anxiety disorder	3.9 (24)***	0.3 (8)	1.0 (32)
Chronic fatigue syndrome	1.8 (11)***	0.4 (12)	0.7 (23)
Posttraumatic stress disorder	2.4 (15)***	0.4 (12)	0.8 (27)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder	1.8 (11)***	0.2 (6)	0.5 (17)

Results are given from tests of differences in means and proportions between case and reference groups.

Note: *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001, ^nsnon-significant; HADS = Hospital Anxiety (A) and Depression (D) Scale.

Group comparisons were performed with t-test for age and HADS, PSS-10, PHQ-15 and Poor sleep quality score and with chi-square analyses for the remaining variables.

¹Self-reports of diagnosis given by a physician.

Table 3. Participant characteristics in the groups at risk for burnout, their referent groups for men and women separately.

	Case group (n = 620)		Referents (n = 2786)
	Men (MC)	Women (WC)	Men (MR)	Women (WR)	Post hoc comparisons (p<.05)	Effect size
Age year, mean (SD)	51.1 (17.5)	47.7 (17.0)	53.2 (16.3)	50.5 (17.0)	MC = MR > WR > WC	.01
Married/living with partner, % (n)	67.3 (136)	68.2 (283)	75.8 (981)	73.6(1080)	MC = WC = WR < MR	.06
Children living at home <7 years, % (n)	15.8 (32)	15.7 (65)	9.9 (128)	13.1 (192)	MC = WC = WR > MR	.07
Children living at home 7–12 years, % (n)	8.9 (18)	12.5 (52)	9.0 (117)	10.4 (153)	MC = WC = MR = WR	–
Children living at home 13–17 years, % (n)	9.4 (19)	15.2 (63)	10.9 (141)	11.9 (175)	MC = WC = MR = WR	–
University education, % (n)	33.3 (67)	42.2 (174)	35.2 (454)	48.6 (710)	WR > WC = MR = MC	.13
Physical exercise ≥ 2 times/week, % (n)	47.0 (93)	62.6 (254)	63.3 (817)	74.4 (1091)	WR > WC = MR > MC	.16
Self-rated health, % (n)						.20
Excellent	2.5 (5)	3.2 (13)	12.9 (167)	11.7 (172)	MC = WC < MR = WR
Very good	11.4 (23)	15.2 (62)	29.5 (382)	35.8 (525)	MC = WC < MR < WR
Good	33.3 (67)	30.2 (123)	36.9 (478)	33.0 (484)	MC = WC = MR = WR
Fairly good	38.8 (78)	40.3 (164)	19.0 (246)	18.1 (266)	MC = WC > MR = WR
Poor	13.9 (28)	11.1 (45)	1.6 (21)	1.4 (20)	MC = WC > MR = WR
HADS-A, mean (SD)	8.44 (4.30)	8.77 (4.14)	3.17 (2.72)	3.91 (3.03)	MC = WC > WR > MR	.28
HADS-D, mean (SD)	7.31 (4.13)	6.45 (3.86)	2.55 (2.34)	2.19 (2.18)	MC > WC > MR > WR	.29
PSS-10, (mean, SD)	20.44 (5.88)	21.29 (5.66)	12.00 (4.93)	12.57 (5.31)	MC = WC > WR > MR	.29
PHQ-15 (mean, SD)	34.87 (17.94)	35.59 (16.26)	16.11 (13.20)	20.54 (14.07)	MC = WC > WR > MR	.19
KSQ Sleep disturbance, mean (SD)	2.39 (0.97)	2.36 (0.96)	1.24 (0.73)	1.44 (0.78)	MC = WC > WR > MR	.21
Diagnosis^1, % (n)
Depression	15.7 (32)	19.0 (79)	1.0 (13)	3.1 (46)	MC = WC > MR = WR	.29
Exhaustion syndrome	9.3 (19)	13.2 (55)	1.2 (16)	3.6 (54)	MC = WC > WR > MR	.19
Panic disorder	4.9 (10)	4.8 (20)	0.3 (4)	1.1 (16)	MC = WC > MR = WR	.14
Generalized anxiety disorder	2.5 (5)	4.6 (19)	0.3 (4)	0.3 (4)	MC = WC > MR = WR	.15
Chronic fatigue syndrome	2.0 (4)	1.7 (7)	0.5 (7)	0.3 (5)	MC = WC > MR = WR	.07
Posttraumatic stress disorder	1.0 (2)	3.1 (13)	0.2 (2)	0.7 (10)	MC = WC > MR = WR	.10
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder	2.9 (6)	1.2 (5)	0.2 (2)	0.3 (4)	MC = WC = WR > MR	.10

Tests of mean differences and proportions were performed between case-group and reference group.

Note: ¹Self-reports of diagnoses given by a physician.

Table 4. Mean number of affective and symptoms and prevalence rates for specific symptoms in the case and reference groups for the total sample, and men and women separately.

	Women		Men			Total sample
	Case group (WC) (n = 416)	Referents (WR) (n = 1482)	Case group (n = 204) (MC)	Referents (MR) (n = 1304)	Post hoc comparisons	Case group (n = 620)	Referents (n = 2786)	Total (n = 3406)	Effect size Eta2 Cramer’s V
Number of CASs, mean (SD)	4.93 (3.19)	1.59 (1.81)	3.96 (2.99)	1.11 (1.57)	WC > MC > WR > MR	4.61 (3.16)	1.36 (1.72)	1.96 (2.42)	.29
Memory difficulties % (n)	41.6 (173)	9.0 (134)	32.8 (67)	12.1 (158)	WC = MC > WR = MR	38.7 (240)	10.4 (292)	15.6 (532)	.31
Concentration difficulties % (n)	49.8 (207)	10.4 (154)	38.7 (79)	8.2 (107)	WC = MC > WR = MR	46.1 (286)	9.4 (261)	16.1 (547)	.40
Absent minded % (n)	48.3 (201)	15.7 (232)	38.7 (79)	11.7 (152)	WC = MC > WR > MR	45.2 (280)	13.8 (384)	19.5 (664)	.31
General discomfort % (n)	20.9 (87)	3.5 (52)	15.7 (32)	2.5 (33)	WC = MC > WR = MR	19.2 (119)	3.0 (85)	6.0 (204)	.27
Feeling tired/lethargic % (n)	80.3 (334)	41.0 (607)	66.2 (135)	27.4 (357)	WC > MC > WR > MR	75.6 (469)	34.6 (964)	42.1 (1433)	.33
Sleep disturbance % (n)	50.0 (208)	26.2 (389)	36.3 (74)	17.4 (227)	WC > MC > WR > MR	45.5 (282)	22.1 (616)	26.3 (898)	.21
Feeling tense/nervous % (n)	30.8 (128)	8.9 (132)	23.0 (47)	3.5 (45)	WC = MC > WR > MR	28.2 (175)	6.1 (165)	10.0 (340)	.29
Feeling irritable/edgy % (n)	41.3 (172)	14.4 (214)	35.3 (72)	9.5 (124)	WC = MC > WR > MR	39.4 (244)	12.1 (338)	17.1 (582)	.29
Feeling depressed % (n)	48.3 (201)	11.7 (173)	38.7 (79)	7.4 (96)	WC = MC > WR > MR	45.2 (280)	9.7 (269)	16.1 (549)	.38
Feeling worried % (n)	44.2 (184)	15.0 (223)	38.7 (79)	9.4 (123)	WC = MC > WR > MR	42.4 (263)	12.4 (346)	17.9 (609)	.31
Other cognitive or affective symptoms % (n)	37.3 (155)	7.8 (115)	31.9 (65)	6.6 (86)	WC = MC > WR = MR	35.5 (220)	7.2 (201)	12.4 (421)	.34

Group comparisons were performed with t-test for number of symptoms and chi-square analyses for prevalence rates. All case vs reference group differences were statistically significant (p<.001). Results are also given for post-hoc comparisons.

Note: Measures of effect size was eta² for ANOVA and Cramer’s V for chi² analyses.

Table 5. Spearman correlation coefficients between burnout score (SMBQ) and total number of cognitive and affective symptoms (CASs) and mean score for each specific CAS for men, women and total sample.

	Burnout score
	Women	Men	Total
Number of CASs	.637**	.559**	.608***
Memory difficulties	.372**	.275**	.327***
Concentration difficulties	.447**	.346**	.410***
Absent minded	.364**	.292**	.341***
General discomfort	.299**	.216**	.269***
Feeling tired/lethargic	.492**	.450**	.482***
Sleep disturbance	.266**	.259**	.270***
Feeling tense/nervous	.320**	.250**	.301***
Feeling irritable/edgy	.338**	.282**	.322***
Feeling depressed	.436**	.352**	.408***
Feeling worried	.354**	.282**	.333***
Other cognitive or affective symptoms	.377**	.284**	.343***

Note. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Table 6. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values for unique predictability of each affective and cognitive symptoms for risk of being present in the burnout case group (SMBQ ≥ 4.0) for the total sample and for men and women separately.

	Unadjusted						Adjusted
	Women		Men		Total sample		Women		Men		Total sample
	OR	95 % CI	OR	95 % CI	OR	95 % CI	OR	95 % CI	OR	95 % CI	OR	95 % CI
Memory difficulties	2.36***	1.68–3.29	1.30 ^ns	.83–2.04	1.84***	1.41–2.40	2.15***	1.53–3.04	1.18 ^ns	.73–1.87	1.72***	1.30–2.26
Concentration difficulties	2.32***	1.67–3.22	1.94**	1.22–3.06	2.20***	1.69–2.87	2.38***	1.70–3.32	2.03**	1.28–3.24	2.27***	1.73–2.97
Absent minded	1.57**	1.16–2.13	1.56*	1.01–2.39	1.57***	1.23–2.01	1.75***	1.28–2.40	1.67*	1.07–2.59	1.71***	1.32–2.20
General discomfort	.93 ^ns	.55–1.56	.77 ^ns	.37–1.61	.89 ^ns	.59–1.35	.96 ^ns	0.57–1.64	.78 ^ns	.37–1.65	0.92 ^ns	.60–1.42
Feeling tired/lethargic	2.33***	1.72–3.15	2.19***	1.51–3.18	2.33***	1.85–2.94	2.51***	1.84–3.43	2.30***	1.57–3.37	2.41***	1.90–3.07
Sleep disturbance	1.26 ^ns	.95–1.66	1.24 ^ns	.84–1.82	1.29*	1.03–1.61	1.19 ^ns	.89–1.58	1.15 ^ns	.78–1.70	1.19 ^ns	.95–1.49
Feeling tense/nervous	1.03 ^ns	.70–1.53	1.65 ^ns	.91–.01	1.18 ^ns	.85–1.64	1.10 ^ns	.74–1.66	1.68 ^ns	.90–3.13	1.21 ^ns	.86–1.69
Feeling irritable/edgy	1.21 ^ns	.88–1.67	1.44 ^ns	.93–2.22	1.28*	.99–1.67	1.22 ^ns	.88–1.70	1.49 ^ns	.95–2.32	1.30*	1.00–1.69
Feeling depressed	2.29***	1.65–3.17	2.32***	1.48–3.64	2.32***	1.78–3.01	2.36***	1.69–3.29	2.39***	1.51–3.78	2.37***	1.82–3.10
Feeling worried	1.32 ^ns	.94–1.85	1.73*	1.11–2.70	1.45**	1.11–1.90	1.33 ^ns	.94–1.86	1.78*	1.14–2.81	1.47**	1.13–1.93
Other cognitive or affective symptoms	2.02***	1.41–2.87	1.87**	1.16–3.00	1.96***	1.48–2.60	2.08***	1.45–2.98	1.94**	1.19–3.14	2.04***	1.53–2.71

Note: *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001, ^nsnon-significant.

Data availability statement

Data is available upon reasonable request.