Burnout: de stand van zaken

Abstract

Burnout: the state of the art Burnout: the state of the art This manuscript presents an overview of the state-of-the-art in burnout research. Burnout is a work-related syndrome of extreme fatigue (exhaustion), distancing from work (cynicism), and low levels of professional efficacy, that is rooted in either the characteristics of one’s job or on individual’s way of coping with these characteristics. Being a work-related phenomenon, burnout can be distinguished from other, more general mental illness such as depression. Further, burnout and engagement can be distinguished as well.Burnout can be assessed by asking workers about their personal and subjective experience of their health. Objective ways of measuring burnout (e.g., using psychophysiological measures) have as yet not been useful. The emphasis on burnout as a work-related phenomenon is also evident from current theoretical perspectives. On the one hand, these perspectives highlight the role of work-related factors, whereas on the other hand these perspectives focus on the role of personality characteristics such as neuroticism and (over-)commitment. Burnout affects the organization as well as individual workers; it is related to elevated levels of sickness absence, a higher risk of work disability, and a lower level of work performance. Both person-directed and organization-directed interventions may affect burnout positively.