Job satisfaction and depression in the Spanish Society of Periodontology and Research (SEPA) members, and their relation to the burnout syndrome. Creation of a structural model

OBJECTIVE This study is aimed at getting to know the existing relationship between the dimensions of the burnout syndrome and job satisfaction, on one hand, and depressive feelings on the other through the creation of a structural model aimed at relating all these concepts on a sample of Spanish periodontists. STUDY DESIGN The initial sample comprised 284 individuals, who represented 20% of the members of the Spanish Society of Periodontology and Research (www.SEPA.es). These individuals were chosen randomly by means of stratified sampling with proportional affixation by their autonomous community of residence. All participants were sent by post the MBI, CET and job-satisfaction questionnaires. The software package used for data analysis was LISREL v. 8.7 by checking models of structural equations so as to prove the proposed model's adjustment. RESULTS The total number of answered questionnaires was 170 (59.85%). A positive relation was observed between emotional tiredness and depersonalization and depression. However, this dimension correlated negatively with job satisfaction and self-realization. CONCLUSIONS The obtained results show that, in this sample of periodontists, job satisfaction acts as a modulator in the transition from emotional tiredness to depression.