Title : Impact of burnout on executive functions in employees: A case study in a metallurgy company
Abstract:
Background: Burnout is associated with cognitive impairment. Research has shown a link between burnout and difficulties in executive functions in daily life, as well as changes in underlying neural processes. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the impact of burnout on cognitive functioning, particularly on executive functions, and to identify key factors influencing these effects.
Materials and methods: A total of 104 employees of a Moroccan industrial company participated voluntarily. They completed two neurocognitive digital tests via the ELIAN software and the self-assessment questionnaire "Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)". After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 102 participants remained in the study.
Results: the study sample was composed of 102 voluntary employees who were informed in advance about the purpose of the survey and the anonymity of the data. It was conducted at the workplace through direct individual interviews. Each participant was given the option to accept or decline participation. They were aged 22 to 60 years, with a mean age of 36.76 ± 10.5 years. 76.5% were men and 23.5% were women. Their professional status was diverse: 48% were supervisors, 32.4% were operators and 19.6% were managers. Statistical analysis showed that burnout significantly improved some executive functions, such as visuospatial perception, while impairing others, such as accuracy. The results also highlighted that age and gender are determinant factors in the effects of burnout on executive functioning.
Conclusion: This study concludes that the impact of burnout on executive functioning varies depending on the type of cognitive task involved, suggesting that burnout affects cognitive functions in complex and task- specific ways.
