Abstract
In order to shed light on the midwife's burnout syndrome and its related factors. We conducted a longitudinal survey by a free-answer questionnaire method, covering 145 of midwives who graduated from midwifery school one year before, 104 of two years' graduates, 78 of three years' graduates, and 96 of five years' graduates. In addition, we interviewed with 13 of full five years' graduates.
As a result, while no burnout sufferer was found among those who graduated full one year before, it turned out that more than 13 percent of two or more years' graduates suffered from burnout. Excluding those with signes of the disorder, the completely normal accounted for less than half ofthe five years' graduates.
The midwife's job arrangement and/or family life, which had existed as a potentional factor, was found to be a rather indirect contributor to burnout, since the support from her family members or friends help to alleviate its effects. However, her attitudes toward the job or willingness was found to be directly related to the burnout, and to be strongly influences by superiors' or colleagues' evaluation of her job. Moreover, the survey revealed that job transfers tend to act as a direct contributor to the hazard.
