Perception of stress, Burnout syndrome and coping strategies in caregivers of institutionalized older adults: a correlation study

Introduction: Acting as a caregiver for institutionalized elderly people has been shown to be susceptible to stress, which in a chronic and adaptive way can lead to Burnout syndrome. In this context, coping strategies can mitigate or delay the negative impact of organizational factors. Objectives: To analyze the perception of stress and burnout syndrome in formal caregivers of institutionalized elderly people and to verify their correlation with coping strategies. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted with 54 professionals who provide care to elderly people living in three long-term care institutions. A sociodemographic, labor and health characterization questionnaire was used; the Perceived Stress Scale; the Maslach Burnout Inventory- Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS); and the Occupational Coping Scale were also used. The correlation between the values obtained by the instruments was verified using the LOESS statistical method. All ethical precepts were followed. Results: There was a predominance of female participants, aged between 36 and 51 years, completed high school, married and with children, with a monthly family income between 1 and 3 minimum wages. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the perception of stress and burnout, as well as a trend in which higher levels of coping strategies exert a negative correlation on the perception of stress, regardless of the syndrome. Conclusion: Screening for stress and burnout syndrome in professionals who provide care to institutionalized elderly people is important to implement preventive actions aimed at this population, and can mitigate physical, emotional, and psychological disorders.