Effects of burnout syndrome on pregnancy and the postpartum period

Ateş, Sezin

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.20250406

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Original Article • Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. 71 (11) • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20250406 linkcopy

Effects of burnout syndrome on pregnancy and the postpartum period

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

SUMMARY

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of burnout among pregnant working individuals and its effects on both obstetric complications and issues that may arise in the early postpartum period.

METHODS: Healthy pregnant women were questioned regarding their working life and Maslach Burnout Inventory. They were divided into two groups—burnout and non-burnout—according to the burnout score. The two groups were compared in terms of pregnancy and postpartum complications and breastfeeding.

RESULTS: Burnout was identified in 164 pregnant women (54.1%). The age of the women with burnout was statistically significantly higher than that of the group without burnout. The breastfeeding rate was lower in the burnout group. In the evaluation of postpartum infective complications, 19.5% of the women with burnout and 8.6% of those without burnout developed infections, and this difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: It has been demonstrated that burnout increases the risk of infectious complications in pregnancy, reduces postpartum breastfeeding rates, and contributes to other negative outcomes.

KEYWORDS:
Pregnancy; Burnout; Postpartum; Breastfeeding

		Min–Max			Median	Mean±SD/n-%
Age		17.0	–	40.0	27.0	27.8	±	4.7
Education level	Primary school					14		4.6%
	Middle school					44		14.5%
	High school					126		41.6%
	University					119		39.3%
Occupation	Private/public employee					170		56.1%
Occupation	Self-employed					133		43.9%
Work type	Day					294		97.0%
Work type	Day–night					9		3.0%
Work hours		0.5	–	20.0	3.0	4.3	±	3.5
Gravida		1.0	–	6.0	2.0	1.9	±	1.0
Parity	(-)					160		52.8%
Parity	(+)					143		47.2%
Parity number		1.0	–	4.0	1.0	1.5	±	0.6
Gestational week		5.0	–	41.0	34.0	31.3	±	8.1
SGA	(-)					264		87.1%
SGA	(+)					39		12.9%
Oligohydramnios	(-)					280		92.4%
Oligohydramnios	(+)					23		7.6%
Delivery type	Vaginal					86		28.4%
Delivery type	Cesarean					217		71.6%
Gestational week		28.0	–	41.0	39.0	38.7	±	1.4
Newborn weight		1,815	–	4,550	3,260	3,247	±	400
Need for intensive care unit	(-)					284		93.7%
Need for intensive care unit	(+)					19		6.3%
Infection	(-)					273		90.1%
Infection	(+)					44		14,5%
Breastfeeding status	(-)					97		32.0%
Breastfeeding status	(+)					206		68.0%
Emotional exhaustion score		9.0	–	44.0	20.0	20.8	±	7.2
Depersonalization score		5.0	–	20.0	8.0	8.8	±	3.6
Reduced personal accomplishment score		8.0	–	40.0	29.0	27.5	±	7.9
Burnout	(-)					139		45.9%
Burnout	(+)					164		54.1%

		Burnout (-) (n: 139)				Burnout (+) (n: 164)				p-value
		Mean±ss/n-%			Median	Mean±ss/n-%			Median	p-value
Age		27.2	±	4.9	26.0	28.3	±	4.5	28.0	*0.009* m
Education level	Primary school	4		2.9%		10		6.1%		0.397c²
	Middle school	20		14.4%		24		14.6%
	High school	64		46.0%		62		37.8%
	University	51		36.7%		68		41.5%
Occupation	Private/public	83		59.7%		87		53.0%		0.244c²
Occupation	Self-employed	17		12.2%		15		9.1%		0.244c²
Work type	Day	136		97.8%		158		96.3%		0.443c²
Work type	Day–night	3		2.2%		6		3.7%		0.443c²
Work hours		3.99	±	3.40	3.00	4.54	±	3.64	4.00	0.162m
Gravida		1.86	±	1.04	1.00	1.94	±	1.04	2.00	0.406m
Parity	(-)	77		55.4%		83		50.6%		0.406c²
Parity	(+)	62		44.6%		81		49.4%		0.406c²
Parity number		1.50	±	0.59	1.00	1.43	±	0.67	1.00	0.292m
Gestational week		32.6	±	6.7	34.0	30.3	±	9.0	34.0	0.115m
SGA	(-)	123		88.5%		141		86.0%		0.515c²
SGA	(+)	16		11.5%		23		14.0%		0.515c²
Oligohydramnios	(-)	128		92.1%		152		92.7%		0.845c²
Oligohydramnios	(+)	11		7.9%		12		7.3%		0.845c²
Delivery type	Vaginal	38		27.3%		48		29.3%		0.710c²
Delivery type	Cesarean	101		72.7%		116		70.7%		0.710c²
Gestational week		38.8	±	1.5	39.0	38.7	±	1.4	39.0	0.208m
Newborn weight		3,261	±	428	3,300	3,236	±	375	3,215	0.268m
Need for intensive care unit	(-)	129		92.8%		155		94.5%		0.542c²
Need for intensive care unit	(+)	10		7.2%		9		5.5%		0.542c²
Infection	(-)	127		91.4%		132		80.5%		*0.007* c²
Infection	(+)	12		8.6%		32		19.5%		*0.007* c²
Breastfeeding status	(-)	38		27.3%		59		36.0%		*0.006* c²
Breastfeeding status	(+)	101		72.7%		105		64.0%		*0.006* c²
Emotional exhaustion score		15.5	±	4.8	15.0	25.2	±	5.8	25.0	*0.000* m
Depersonalization score		6.1	±	1.7	5.0	11.1	±	3.3	10.0	*0.000* m
Reduced personal accomplishment score		27.5	±	9.2	30.0	27.5	±	6.6	29.0	0.355m

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Associação Médica Brasileira R. São Carlos do Pinhal, 324, 01333-903 São Paulo SP - Brazil, Tel: +55 11 3178-6800, Fax: +55 11 3178-6816 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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[TFN1] SGA: small for gestational age; SD: standard deviation.