Psychosocial work environment and burnout among employees of a Ghanaian Public University

Abstract

ABSTRACT The psychosocial climate of universities becomes very important because of the increasing student enrolment, academic-administrative duties, the quest for promotion, the fast-changing mode of lesson delivery, all leading to work overload. This study aims to examine the influence of psychosocial factors on burnout of employees of a public university in Ghana. A survey measuring burnout and psychosocial work characteristics with the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Educators Survey (MBI-ES) and job demands – Swedish Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire (DCSQ) was completed by 1,222 employees. We developed structural models that suggested that the elements of burnout – emotional weariness, personal accomplishment, and depersonalization – are positively impacted by job demands, social support, job decision freedom, harassment, and discrimination. The results further indicated that job demands, job decision latitude, social support, and harassment have significant effect on emotional exhaustion of the workers. Again, job decision latitude and discrimination significantly influenced depersonalization of the workers. In addition, job demands, job decision latitude, social support, and discrimination affected personal accomplishment. However, there was no statistically significant influence of discrimination on emotional exhaustion, job demand and depersonalization, social support and depersonalization, harassment and depersonalization, and harassment and diminished personal accomplishment. We conclude that by implementing practical interventions, such as regular training on how to reduce job demands, either physical or psychological, and enhancing social support and job control, burnout among the employees can be improved for improved health and quality teaching.