Burnout Syndrome in Work from Home Settings during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Burnout is a syndrome that a worker experiences due to prolonged stress caused by work and unmanaged working conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, workers who usually do their jobs in the office or in the field had to work from home. Increased workload, not followed by adequate support, can cause stress to workers, eventually leading to burnout.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the workers' burnout level and its associated risk factors during the second wave COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 145 workers using the accidental sampling method. The Translated Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) was used and distributed online to respondents to assess the burnout level among workers.

Results: Most respondents were female workers (60%), holding bachelor's degrees (62.06%), and working in the computer and information technology industry. More than half of workers experienced burnout. Amongst them, more than a third of workers experienced a high level of burnout. Risk factors that were significantly associated with burnout were workers' age (p = 0.009), sex (p = 0.006), working hours (p = 0.046), and secondary symptoms (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Workers who work >8 hours a day, female, and younger, may be almost three times more susceptible to experiencing burnout while working from home. Gender roles may have a big impact on female workers in work from home settings. Psychological and psychosomatic complaints may also significantly contribute to burnout.