Professional burnout syndrome among female hairdressers: Analysis of organizational and somatic predictors

Abstract

The study analyzes some of the causes of burnout among women in the hairdressing industry. Using a sample of 41 participants, a dependency analysis was conducted to examine organizational and somatic predictors through non-parametric statistical methods, including the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between years of professional experience and the onset of burnout symptoms (χ² = 24.883, p < 0.001), with practitioners having over six years of experience being the most affected. The results indicate that high daily workload, lack of regulated breaks, and short service intervals per client (10-20 minutes) significantly increase the risk of stress. Furthermore, a direct link was identified between physical discomfort (joint pain reported by 84.2% of respondents) and psychosocial exhaustion. The discussion integrates the concepts of “emotional labor” and “compassion fatigue,” highlighting the hairdresser’s role as an informal source of social support. The absence of personal protective equipment and poor hygienic conditions further exacerbate job dissatisfaction. In conclusion, practical measures are proposed, including the optimization of work processes, implementation of debriefing sessions, and training in emotional management to prevent burnout and enhance the wellbeing of professionals in the industry.