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. 2018 Dec 7;7(12):523.
doi: 10.3390/jcm7120523.

Emotional Exhaustion and Health Complaints as Indicators of Occupational Diseases Among Civil Servants in Spain

Gabriela Topa  1 , José F Jurado-Del Pozo  2
Affiliations

Emotional Exhaustion and Health Complaints as Indicators of Occupational Diseases Among Civil Servants in Spain

Gabriela Topa et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Occupations focused on helping others, guaranteeing people's security, and defending societal values can be stressful and risky for the workers involved. Emotional exhaustion and health complaints usually emerge as indicators of the stress suffered by these workers in undertaking their roles. This research aims to explore the effects of psychological contract breach on both emotional exhaustion and health complaints among three kinds of Spanish workers, namely firefighters (n = 80), professional soldiers (n = 77), and prison officers (n = 107). The predictor variables include job tenure and psychological contract breach. Criterion variables are employees' emotional exhaustion and health complaints. Our findings showed that job tenure and contract breaches significantly explain both emotional exhaustion and health complaints. Despite these general findings, some differences emerge as a function of the organizations. Significance levels were higher for prison officers than for firemen and Spanish soldiers. Results are discussed, suggesting conceptual integration and direction for future risk prevention in this kind of public organization.

Keywords: burnout; emotional exhaustion; health complaints; occupational diseases; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Results of the regression analysis on emotional exhaustion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Results of the regression analysis of health complaints.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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