This path analysis of mothers of children with autism aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal burnout and the mother’s subjective reporting of difficulty in childcare, family function, and personality traits. A total of 410 mothers of children with autism (mean age 39.03, SD 7.42) completed four questionnaires: Parental Burnout Measure (PBM-12), International Personality Item Pool—Big Five Markers (IPIP-BFM-20), Flexibility and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES-IV), and a survey on childcare difficulties. Path analysis using two predetermined models was used to examine the interrelations. Both models fit the empirical data equally with a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) index of 0.000 and a 90% confidence interval (model 1: 0.000–0.052; model 2: 0.000–0.059). Path analysis revealed similar fit indexes for both models: (a) burnout is a mediator between exogenous variables and family functioning, and (b) family functioning is an indirect mediator between exogenous variables and burnout. These findings suggest that increased maternal emotional instability (neuroticism) and conscientiousness can lead to increased family communication problems, which may further lead to a breakdown of the equilibrium in the family system, resulting in the mother’s dissatisfaction with family life and a consequent increased risk of maternal burnout.

The aim of this pilot intervention study was to assess the effectiveness of selected forms of therapy (massage and relaxation) in reducing the perceived burden and improving the emotional status of caregivers of people with dementia and to determine which form of physical intervention is most effective. The study group was made up of 45 informal caregivers, who were divided into three subgroups (the massage group, relaxation group and control group). The Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used. In the study group of caregivers, an average level of perceived burden, satisfactory life satisfaction and moderate severity of depressive symptoms were found. Massage led to a reduction in perceived burden and an improvement in mood and well-being of the examined group of caregivers. Group relaxation activities had no effect on the level of burden experienced by the caregivers, but significantly improved their mood. Both massage and relaxation were equally effective in improving the well-being of caregivers. Due to the lower cost of group activities, relaxation activities seem to be more effective and easier to organize, but further studies are necessary.

Sense of Coherence, Resilience and Coping as Correlates of Burnout of Parents of Children with Disabilities: The New Burnout Screening Instrument

Purpose The fundamental purpose of the study was to answer the questions if and to what degree the application of relaxation techniques during physical education (PE) classes influenced the capacity to cope with stress in comparison with traditional PE classes in a group of senior high school...

The profession of a physician is a profession of social responsibility, in which medical competence should go hand in hand with non-medical competences. Mental strain, physical fatigue and entanglement in the administrative system can result in chronic stress and contribute to professional burnout, affecting both the well-being of medical staff and the quality of medical care provided. The Author’s intention is to promote mindfulness and compassion training that are considered to be protective and promoting the well-being of physicians resources in conditions of exposure to occupational stress. The analysis was based on 197 documents retrieved from the PubMed/Medline, Science Direct/Scopus databases in years 2008–2017, referring to the impact of mindfulness and compassion training on professional burnout among physicians. Only 21 papers retrieved from the scientific bases met inclusion criteria, referring to the impact of mindfulness and compassion training on professional burnout among physicians. Increasing concentration, improving memory, reducing the level of stress, anxiety and depression and strengthening kindness attitude are the basis for mindfulness and compassion training, which also supports the ability of unreactive responses to difficult situations, develops communication between the physician and the patient.