Background

: The work of forensic personnel is a source of daily exposure to very stressful situations, and a potential risk for employee burnout.

Objectives

: The objective of the study was to analyze the prevalence of burnout and its consequences in a sample of 79 workers from the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) of Valencia (Spain).

Method

: Data collection measurements used were the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI), and questionnaires to evaluate health and job satisfaction, as well as feelings of guilt and shame.

Results

: IML staff showed a moderate risk of professional burnout, with psychological exhaustion as the strongest predictor of health consequences. Regarding the role of emotions in burnout, the highest prevalence were found for guilt and shame, and both were associated with health problems.

Conclusions

: The IML staff requires labor plans and programs that take into account the high level of their job demands, in order to avoid the development of employee burnout.