Relationship of Workload and Work-Life Balance with Burnout Syndrome in Surabaya Firefighters

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout syndrome is predicted to occur when there is a high workload without being balanced with sufficient work-life balance. However, the exact relationship between the three is unknown. This study aimed to determine the relationship between workload, work-life balance, and burnout syndrome among firefighters. Method: This was a correlational study with a cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 263 participants from the Surabaya Fire Department. The sampling technique used was non-probability sampling with purposive sampling. The independent variables in this study were workload and work-life balance, with burnout syndrome as the dependent variable. The inclusion criteria were firefighters with a minimum of one year of service. The data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho. Results: The results of this study showed that there was no significant relationship between workload and burnout syndrome (p=0.110), and there was a significant relationship between work-life balance and burnout syndrome (p=0.00).  Conclusion:  This study has implications for reducing the occurrence of burnout syndrome in terms of regulations and working conditions. Further research should examine the internal factors that can reduce the symptoms of burnout syndrome.