University personnel health: The role of personal variables, engagement and burnout

Abstract

University teaching quality depends on the workforce of the institution, both teachers and administrative staff. Considering this population has been little investigated, the present study aims to know the role of variables (sociodemographic and behavioral), burnout and work engagement on physical and mental health in a group of workers in a private university in Lima, Peru. In order to achieve this goal, mental and physical health (SF-36), burnout (MBI) and work engagement (UWES) were assessed in a group of 512 university personnel from Lima, Peru. Results showed that, even when they keep a good physical functioning, there`re high report psychosomatic complaint, low energy, pain problems, overweight and poor health behavior. No differences between sex, age or type of  work  were  found.
The  variables that better predicted physical and mental health were hours of sleep, work engagement, especially “vigor” component; as well as burnout components “emotional exhaustion” and “professional efficacy”. Moreover, “Cynicism” predicts mental health, but not physical health. Results provide important information about workers health promotion.