Barbara Loera

Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among Italian Nurses: How Many Factors Must a Researcher Consider?

Background The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is the mainstream measure for burnout. However, its psychometric properties have been questioned, and alternative measurement models of the inventory have been suggested. Aims Different models for the number of items and factors of the MBI-HSS, the version of the Inventory for the Human Service sector, were tested in order to identify the most appropriate model for measuring burnout in Italy. Methods The study dataset consisted of a sample of 925 nurses. Ten alternative models of burnout were compared using confirmatory factor analysis. The psychometric properties of items and reliability of the MBI-HSS subscales were evaluated. Results Item malfunctioning may confound the MBI-HSS factor structure. The analysis confirmed the factorial structure of the MBI-HSS with a three-dimensional, 20-item assessment. Conclusions The factorial structure underlying the MBI-HSS follows Maslach’s definition when items are reduced from the original 22 to a 20-item set. Alternative models, either with fewer items or with an increased number of latent dimensions in the burnout structure, do not yield better results to justify redefining the item set or theoretically revising the syndrome construct.

Antecedenti della sindrome di burnout nella sanità pubblica: fattori interpersonali e organizzativi

Determinants of the burnout syndrome in public health: interpersonal and organizational factors - The contribution illustrates the results of a research on the determinants of the burnout syndrome. This was carried out in four Piemontese hospitals in order to put into practice actions of prevention of the surveyed discomfort. The aim is to compare, besides the traditional individual factors, the determinants belonging to the interpersonal sphere and those that may be traced back to the organizational dimension. The regression analysis allow to define a sort of priority map for the following intervention, that is to locate wards and professional groups more at risk, in relation to the critical group and/or organizational state. Results also show the role that interpersonal factors play in the onset, the structuring and the evolution of the syndrome. Keywords: burnout syndrome, public health, organizational factors. Parole chiave: sindrome di burnout, sanita pubblica, fattori organizzativi.

Giustizia organizzativa, supporto sociale e burnout tra lavoratori della Sanità : effetti diretti e di moderazione

Il contributo illustra i risultati di una ricerca sul ruolo che la giustizia organizzativa e il supporto sociale - da parte di colleghi e superiori - hanno in ambito lavorativo sull’insorgere del burnout. Obiettivo e evidenziare gli effetti di queste dimensioni organizzative sull’insorgere della sindrome e, nel dettaglio, identificare gli eventuali effetti di moderazione del supporto sociale sulla relazione tra giustizia organizzativa e burnout. Lo studio e stato condotto nell’Azienda Sanitaria Ospedaliera piu grande del Piemonte e ha coinvolto 503 operatori che lavorano in tre reparti molto diversi dal punto di vista delle caratteristiche dei pazienti e dell’intensita del sistema di cure (ICU e non-ICU): medicina d’urgenza, medicina interna e radiodiagnostica. I risultati hanno messo in luce sia la presenza di effetti diretti della giustizia e del supporto sociale sul burnout, sia effetti di moderazione del supporto sociale sulla relazione tra giustizia e dimensioni del burnout, diversificati sulla base dei reparti coinvolti nell’indagine. .

Aging and Work Ability: The Moderating Role of Job and Personal Resources

Objective: Demographic changes involving western countries and later retirements due to the recent pension reforms induce a gradual aging of the workforce. This imply an increasing number of workers with health problems and a decreasing of ability to work. In this direction, the present study aims at examining the role of job and personal resources between age and work ability within nurses. Method: The study was cross-sectional and not randomized; data were collected by a self-report questionnaire during a multi-center survey conducted in two Italian hospitals in 2016. In this way, 333 nurses were reached. Results: Multiple linear regression showed that age is significantly and negatively associated to work ability, and that job resources (e.g., decision authority and meaning of work) and personal resources (e.g., hope and resilience) moderate the relationship between age and work ability. Discussion: These results highlight that investing in work and personal resources to support WA is even more relevant for those professions where high physical effort is required.

RhinAsthma patient perspective: A Rasch validation study

ABSTRACT Objective: In daily practice, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) tools are useful for supplementing clinical data with the patients perspective. To encourage their use by clinicians, the availability of tools that can quickly provide valid results is crucial. A new HRQoL tool has been proposed for patients with asthma and rhinitis: the RhinAsthma Patient Perspective—RAPP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric robustness of the RAPP using the Item Response Theory (IRT) approach, to evaluate the scalability of items and test whether or not patients use the items response scale correctly. Methods: 155 patients (53.5% women, mean age 39.1, range 16–76) were recruited during a multicenter study. RAPP metric properties were investigated using IRT models. Differential item functioning (DIF) was used for gender, age, and asthma control test (ACT). Results: The RAPP adequately fitted the Rating Scale model, demonstrating the equality of the rating scale structure for all items. All statistics on items were satisfactory. The RAPP had adequate internal reliability and showed good ability to discriminate among different groups of participants. DIF analysis indicated that there were no differential item functioning issues for gender. One item showed a DIF by age and four items by ACT. Conclusions: The psychometric evaluation performed using IRT models demonstrated that the RAPP met all the criteria to be considered a reliable and valid method of measurement. From a clinical perspective, this will allow physicians to confidently interpret scores as good indicators of Quality of Life of patients with asthma.

Users’ Support as a Social Resource in Educational Services: Construct Validity and Measurement Invariance of the User-Initiated Support Scale (UISS)

Social support is an important resource for reducing the risks of stress and burnout at work. It seems to be particularly helpful for educational and social professionals. The constant and intense relationships with users that characterize this kind of service can be very demanding, increasing stress and leading to burnout. While significant attention has been paid to supervisors and colleagues in the literature, users have rarely been considered as possible sources of social support. The only exception is the Zimmermann et al.’s (2011) research, focused on customer support as a resource for workers’ well-being. This paper proposes the validation of the customer-initiated support scale developed by Zimmermann et al. (2011), translated into Italian and focused on educational services users (children’s parents), to measure the user support perceived by workers: the User-Initiated Support Scale (UISS). In Study 1 (105 teachers), which specifically involved educators and kindergarten teachers, the items and scale properties were preliminarily examined using descriptive analyses and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In Study 2 (304 teachers), the construct and criterion validity and scale dimensionality were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In Study 3 (304 teachers from Study 2 and 296 educators), measurement invariance (MI) was tested. The EFA results from Study 1 showed a one-factor solution (explained variance, 67.2%). The scale showed good internal coherence (alpha = 0.88). The CFA in Study 2 validated the one-factor solution (comparative fit index = 0.987; standardized root mean square residual = 0.054). Bivariate correlations confirmed construct validity; the UISS was positively associated (convergent) with user gratitude, and not associated (divergent) with disproportionate customer expectations. Regarding the criterion validity test, the UISS was strongly correlated with burnout and job satisfaction. The analysis of MI performed on the Study 3 data confirmed the equality of the parameters of the covariance structure model between the two samples of kindergarten teachers and educators. This research study offers a useful version of a tool for measuring a crucial, but often ignored, protective resource for all professionals working directly with people (patients, students, and service users) that can represent important sources of well-being, directly or indirectly lessening the negative impacts of job demands.

Personal values and the acceptance of immigrants: why national identification matters / Los valores personales y la aceptación de inmigrantes: ¿Por qué es importante la identificación nacional?

Abstract : The study focused on the relations between Italian nationals’ personal values and their expectations towards the way ethnic minorities should acculturate. The main aim was to understand whether nationals’ personal values predict their acculturation preferences towards immigrants, both directly and through national identity. Four hundred and forty-six Italian high school students (Mage = 19.1; SD = 0.57; females = 54.4%) completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing personal values, nationalism, patriotism, acculturation preferences and demographics. An SEM model with bootstrapping estimations was tested. As expected, the results highlighted that personal values predict acculturation preferences towards immigrants in two ways — directly and also through an indirect effect on nationalism — supporting the claim that ingroup and outgroup definitions are closely intertwined. The results also highlighted the need to differentiate between nationalism and patriotism, with the latter having no influence on Italian nationals’ readiness to accept immigrants. Overall, the research demonstrates the relevance of personal values in studying intergroup relations and draws attention to the potential value of communication policies centred on self-transcendence values to improve interethnic relations.

eMSQOL-29: Prospective validation of the abbreviated, electronic version of MSQOL-54

Background: We recently devised a shortened version of the 54-item Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL-54) in paper (MSQOL-29, consisting of 25 items forming 7 subscales and 4 single items, and one filter question for 3 ‘sexual function’ items) and electronic format (eMSQOL-29). Objectives: To prospectively assess eMSQOL-29 psychometric properties, acceptability/equivalence versus MSQOL-29. Methods: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (n = 623; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) range 0.0–9.0) completed eMSQOL-29, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Functional Assessment of MS (FAMS), European Quality of life Five Dimensions-3L, and received EDSS and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Equivalence versus MSQOL-29 was assessed in 242 patients (randomized cross-over design). Results: ‘Sexual function’ items were filtered out by 273 patients (47%). No multi-item scale had floor effect, while five had ceiling effect. Cronbach’s alpha range was 0.88–0.90. Confirmatory factor analysis showed good overall fit and the two-factor solution for composite scores was confirmed. Criterion validity was sub-optimal for ‘cognitive function’ (vs SDMT, r = 0.25) and ‘social function’ (vs FAMS social function, r = 0.38). eMSQOL-29 equivalence was confirmed and its acceptability was good. Conclusion: eMSQOL-29 showed good internal consistency, factor structure and no floor effect, while most subscales had some ceiling effect. Criterion validity was sub-optimal for two subscales. Equivalence and acceptability were good.

Concerns about change and employee wellbeing: the moderating role of social support

Purpose Concerns about change, a measure of the perception about future losses due to organizational change, have received scarce attention within the organizational change literature. This study addresses some relevant questions still unexplored regarding, on the one hand, the relationship between concerns about change and employees’ burnout and work engagement. Moreover, it evaluates the buffering role of social supports, namely that of colleagues and superiors, during the anticipation stage of an organizational change process. Design/methodology/approach Six hundred and thirty-two employees of an administrative public sector filled out a self-reporting questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using hierarchical moderated regression in order to show direct and moderating effects. Findings Results suggest that concerns about change, measured during the anticipation stage of an organizational change process, relate to higher burnout and lower work engagement. Social support significantly affects the rel...

When social support by patrons protects against burnout: A study among Italian public library workers

The study aimed to measure burnout among librarians in a city in Northern Italy, and to identify which demands and resources influence emotional exhaustion and cynicism. In particular, it focused on the relationship with patrons, since in the service sector users are mostly studied as a cause of stress and rarely considered as a source of support for service operators. Hierarchical regressions carried out on data (167 self-administered questionnaires) showed that burnout dimensions are influenced by some socio-demographic and job characteristics, and by the positive and negative aspects of relationships with users. We present some practical implications for library managers, in order to reduce the impact of their patrons’ negative behaviour and to improve conditions to facilitate the expression of users’ support for workers.