Testosterone and occupational burnout in professional male firefighters

Vinnikov D. Romanova Z. Kapanova G. Raushanova A. Kalmakhanov S. Zhigalin A.
December 2021 BioMed Central Ltd

BMC Public Health
2021 #21 Issue 1

Background: Very little is known about the biologic predictors of the occupational burnout in firefighters. The aim of this study was to characterize testosterone profile of active firefighters and quantify its association with three domains of the occupational burnout. Methods: We enrolled 100 firefighters (median age 28 (interquartile range (IQR) 9.8) years with 5 (IQR 9) years in service) of three fire departments in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Demographics, smoking status, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and burnout scores of Maslach Burnout Inventory were assessed using a questionnaire, while total blood testosterone was measured in venous blood. Logistic regression models were used to quantify the association of blood testosterone with each burnout domain in the adjusted for confounders models. Results: The median blood testosterone level was 14 (IQR 3.5) nmol/l and was only predicted by age (beta − 0.14, p < 0.01, 79% power). There were no differences in blood testosterone levels between occupational groups (Group 1 (firefighters), 14.6 (IQR 3.4); Group 2 (fire truck drivers), 14.7 (IQR 5.6); Group 3 (shift commanders, division heads, department managers and engineers), 14 (IQR 4.1) nmol/l, Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.32) or departments. Testosterone could not predict EX or CY, but had a negative association with PE score reflecting more burnout (odds ratio 1.18 (95% confidence interval 1.01;1.38)), adjusted for age, mental component of HRQL and education. Conclusions: Firefighters with higher testosterone may develop burnout in PE earlier, and this should be considered for proper work placement within the rescue system.

Occupational , Professional efficacy , Quality of life , Sex hormones

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al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 al-Farabi avenue, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya street, Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation
National Research Tomsk State University, 36 Lenin avenue, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation
Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, 2 Timakov Street, Novosibirsk, 630117, Russian Federation

al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
National Research Tomsk State University
Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine

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