The Relationship Between the Burnout Syndrome Dimensions and Body Mass Index as a Moderator Variable on Obese Managers in the Mexican Maquiladora Industry.

Burnout syndrome (BS) and obesity are two growing conditions that affect employees' health and company productivity. Recently, several studies have pointed to a possible relationship between both phenomena. However, such a relationship has not been clearly defined. This research analyzes the relationship between BS dimensions and body mass index (BMI), the latter being treated as a moderator variable among obese senior and middle managers in the Mexican maquiladora industry through a structural equation model. A total of 361 senior and middle managers (124 of them classified as obese under the World Health Organization's criteria) completed both the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey [with emotional exhaustion (EE), cynicism, and professional efficacy (PE) as subscale dimensions] and a sociodemographic questionnaire (which included BMI). The results showed a statistically significant relationship between EE and PE (P < 0.001; ß = -0.320), with BMI acting as a moderator variable. The results showed that when BMI increases as a moderator variable, the strength of the relationship between EE and PE also changes. For example, although PE had a negative value of 0.14 before the moderator effect, the value increased up to 0.32 when the BMI was factored into the relationship. Therefore, maquiladora industries are being advised to increase their investments on the identification and prevention of employees' EE and obesity. Such interventions would promote a better quality of life and could prevent economic losses resulting from poor employee performance.

Physiological and Subjective Responses Associated to Physical and Mental Load in a Simulated Task / Respuestas fisiológicas y subjetivas asociadas a la carga física y mental en una tarea simulada / Respostas fisiológicas e subjetivas associadas à carga física e mental em uma tarefa simulada

Abstract Objective: To develop a quasi-experimental study to know the changes in physiological responses and perceived efforts of a group of fifteen healthy students that performed a simulated task related with the operation of a CNC lathe in a lab environment. Materials and Methods: The participants were asked to randomly complete a total of eight sessions including single and combined test of physical and mental load. Low/High Physical Load and Low/ High Mental Load were established as independent variables. Heart rate, physical performance, mental performance, and effort perception were established as dependent variables. Conclusions: High load levels have a significant effect on the heart rate increasing, but not in the perception of effort. High levels of mental load have a significant effect on physical and mental performance.

Resumen Objetivo: Desarrollar un estudio quasi-experimental para conocer los cambios en las respuestas fisiológicas y esfuerzos percibidos en un grupo de quince estudiantes sanos que realizaron una tarea simulada relacionada con la operación de un torno CNC en ambiente de laboratorio. Materiales y métodos: Los participantes completaron un total de ocho sesiones que incluyeron pruebas individuales y combinadas de esfuerzo físico y mental. La Carga Mental Baja/Alta y Carga Física Baja/Alta fueron establecidas como variables independientes. Frecuencia cardiaca, desempeño físico, desempeño mental y la percepción de esfuerzo fueron establecidas como variables dependientes. Conclusiones: Los niveles altos de carga física tienen un efecto significativo en el incremento de la frecuencia cardiaca, pero no en la percepción de esfuerzo. Los niveles altos de carga mental tienen un efecto significativo en el desempeño físico y mental.

Resumo Objetivo: Desenvolver um estudo quase-experimental para conhecer as mudanças nas respostas fisiológicas e esforços percebidos em um grupo de 15 estudantes saudáveis que realizaram uma tarefa simulada relacionada com a operação de um torno CNC em ambientes de laboratório. Materiais e métodos: Os participantes completaram um total de 8 sessões que incluíram provas individuais e combinadas de esforço físico e mental. A Carga Mental Baixa/Alta e a Carga Física Baixa/Alta foram estabelecidas como variáveis independentes. Frequência cardíaca, desempenho físico, desempenho mental e a percepção de esforço foram estabelecidas como variáveis dependentes. Conclusões: Os níveis altos de carga física têm um efeito significativo no incremento da frequência cardíaca, mas não na percepção de esforço. Os níveis altos de carga mental têm um efeito significativo no desempenho físico e mental.