https://doi.org/10.15344/2455-7498/2017/126
Abstract
Background: The burnout phenomenon appears to be a health-economics problem in many industrialized countries. Alongside well known causes, such as job related or personality-specific factors, the connection between burnout and the experience of time is being focused on increasingly by researchers. Biological as well as social and psychological processes are based on individual rhythms and time management, which are dysregulated in case of burnout patients. Therefore it is relevant to clear up the question of the subjective experience of time. Materials and Method: In terms of relevant subjective experience of time, literature differentiates between the experiences of personal time (biological rhythm or presence of time), of intersubjective time (coordination of time between subjects), and one’s own personal driving force (a vital inner force that actually generates actions). This phenomenological concept is used as a base for an empirical investigation. Methods: Goal of the study is to explore the subjective time experience of 22 burnout patients (aged ϕ 47.2 ±9.1 years) in a psychiatric rehab clinic and of 22 healthy sports students (aged ϕ 23 ±1 years) during a four week period. Adequate method is the diary analysis (qualitative exploration study), in form of a semi-structured guideline interview, in which various subjective perspectives can be taken into consideration. Main topics are the above-mentioned dimensions of time: personal time (rhythm), intersubjective time (giving and taking time, intersubjective reconcilement) and driving force (effort). Dataset includes 1936 statements, which were analysed by the structuring content analysis acc. Mayring. Results: Personal time: Initially, burnout patients complain intensively about negatively experiencing the circadian rhythm. After four weeks, half of the patients report a stabilisation and they discover the pleasant effect of rhythmic sports. Intersubjective experience of time: people suffering from burnout do not achieve a balance between giving and taking - taking time for themselves is considered as something positive, giving time as extremely exhausting. After four weeks spending time with others is declared rather as an enrichment. Driving force: Burnout patients develop almost no driving force- their physical and mental rhythm, as well as all forms of effort are designated entirely as negative. Conclusion: Initially burnout patients, when compared to the healthy control group of sports students, show remarkable deregulations concerning all time dimensions. However, during a four week period, their time patterns can approximate those of healthy people. Movement and sports are declared as important measures in order to stabilise biological and psychosocial time patterns. The mentioned perspectives of time could be used as a base for a specific adapted sports therapy concept.