Objective:

to assess the prevalence of burnout syndrome in the professional group of social workers who perform their work in the community social services.

Methods:

a descriptive and cross-sectional design was proposed, using as the main instrument the Maslach Burnout Inventory. This inventory measures three dimensions related to burnout: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Data collection was carried out through a survey among the social workers registered.

Results:

209 social workers participated in the study, of which 92.8% of the population under study are women and 7.2% are men; their ages ranging between 23 and 64 years. The study prevalence data yields high results in the factors that make up the burnout construct, especially in the Emotional Exhaustion dimension.

Conclusions:

burnout syndrome is present in a high percentage of social workers in the social services system.