Between existential fulfillment and burnout: an empirical study from an existential-analytical perspective

Authors

  • Anton Nindl
  • Alfried Längle
  • Erich Gamsjäger
  • Joachim Sauer

Abstract

The phenomenon of burnout is interpreted on the background of psychoanalytic and socialpsychological perspectives from an existential analytic point of view. The basic condition of its origin is seen as a nonexistential attitude towards life, stemming from a deficit in personal-existential fundamental supports.

A person in this position longs for a fulfilled life but has no orientation in the most basic existential premises. Because of an illusionary sense of purpose and sham, interpersonal skills based on motives outside of oneself, a subjective neediness emerges which results further in a reductionistic, merely task-oriented life philosophy. This attitude lacks the deep-rooted affirmation that guides a person to do and to be. The presented empirical results for 105 teachers indicate a clear correlation between deficit of meaning in life and all aspects of burnout. They confirm the hypothesis of existential analysis and show a significant correlation between burnout and attributes of personality and psychosomatic reactions.

Keywords Existential analysis; Fundamental motivations; Meaning of life; Burnout

Author Biographies

Anton Nindl

Dr. Mag. Anton Nindl, Klinischer und Gesundheitspsychologe, Psychotherapeut (EL), Diplompädagoge, Lehrtherapeut (GLE), Leiter des Institutes für Existenzanalyse und Logotherapie in Salzburg, Existenzanalytiker in freier Praxis.

Korrespondenz: Institut für Existenzanalyse und Logotherapie, Thumegger Bezirk 7/1, 5020 Salzburg, Österreich

Alfried Längle

Dr. med. Dr. phil. Alfried Längle, Arzt für Allgemeinmedizin und psychotherapeutische Medizin, Klinischer und Gesundheitspsychologe, Psychotherapeut (EL), Lehrtherapeut (GLE), Präsident der Internationalen Gesellschaft für Logotherapie und Existenzanalyse (GLE-I), Wien.

Erich Gamsjäger

Dr. Mag. Erich Gamsjäger, Psychologe, Diplompädagoge, Psychotherapeut (VT), Studien zu Burnout bei Lehrern

Joachim Sauer

A.o. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Joachim Sauer, Klinischer und Gesundheitspsychologe, Psychotherapeut (KP), Lehrtherapeut, Institut für Psychologie, Universität Salzburg

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Published

2006-07-01

How to Cite

Nindl, A., Längle, A., Gamsjäger, E., & Sauer, J. (2006). Between existential fulfillment and burnout: an empirical study from an existential-analytical perspective. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, (3), 153–159. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/320

Issue

No. 3 (2006): Psychotherapie Forum 14/3 (veröffentlicht bei Springer Wien New York)

Section

Original Work

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