Estrategias para enfrentar el Síndrome de Agotamiento Profesional. Aportes desde la institución y los trabajadores penitenciarios peruanos

Abstract

The article presents the results of qualitative research that aimed to analyse the strategies to deal with Burnout Syndrome and work stress in the Peruvian penitentiary context. The research process supposed 21 semi-structured interviews with authorities of the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE), and 12 focus groups with 59 workers from the treatment and security areas of 10 prisons nationwide. The paper describes three areas of analysis constructed throughout participants´ discourses: (a) Structural changes in the institution, (b) Strengthening personal and professional skills and (c) Social integration of personnel and between areas. In that sense, this paper presents a systemic model to face Burnout Syndrome which includes an intertwined and dialogic program of the three mentioned areas. Moreover, it emphasises on the importance of consolidating systemic and multidimensional intervention programs and recognise "bottom-up" opinions which encourage worker participation.