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The relationship between job stress and job burnout moderated by BDNF rs6265 polymorphism

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Abstract

Rationale

Job stress can lead to job burnout, and BDNF polymorphism has been found to be involved in its psychopathological mechanism. Research needs a better understanding of the important role of gene × environment (i.e., BDNF polymorphism × job stress) interaction on job burnout.

Objective

This study aimed to explore how BDNF rs6265 polymorphism may moderate the relationship between job stress and job burnout.

Methods

Three hundred forty-one healthy participants (187 males and 154 females) from a Chinese university were included. The present study used a standardized questionnaire including demographic characteristics, job stress assessed by the House and Rizzo’s Work Stress Scale, and job burnout assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. The BDNF rs6265 polymorphism was genotyped.

Results

Job stress showed a positive correlation with emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001), cynicism (p < 0.001), and reduced personal accomplishment (p < 0.01). The main effects of BDNF rs6265 polymorphism on emotional exhaustion and cynicism were significant [F(1,333) = 5.136, p = 0.024; F(1,333) = 4.175, p = 0.042, respectively]. The interaction between job stress and BDNF rs6265 on cynicism was significant (△ R2 = 0.013, p = 0.014) after controlling for age, sex, education, and position, indicating that individuals with BDNF rs6265 TT genotype showed higher level of cynicism when in high job stress.

Conclusions

The results provided evidence for the association of BDNF gene rs6265 polymorphism, job stress, and their interaction with job burnout. Individuals with TT genotype in BDNF rs6265 might be susceptible to stressful situations, which would lead to cynicism.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the university faculty who participated in the study, and also to the hospital staff who made contributions to the clinical assessments.

Funding

Shu-chang He is currently receiving a grant (grant number 81871060) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. For the remaining authors, none were declared.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Special Service Personnel Health Management Department, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center, 9 Anxiang Beili, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

      Haiying Jia

    2. Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China

      Mingwei He

    3. School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China

      Xiaoyue Zhang, Yuling Li & Shu-chang He

    4. Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

      Xiang-Yang Zhang

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    1. Haiying Jia
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    Haiying Jia and Mingwei He contribute to this study equally. They are considered as joint co-first authors.

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    Jia, H., He, M., Zhang, X. et al. The relationship between job stress and job burnout moderated by BDNF rs6265 polymorphism. Psychopharmacology 238, 2963–2971 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-05911-x

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