Re-examining the link between occupational stress and burnout in a Sub-Saharan African nation: the precursor and moderating roles of organisational and social support

Abstract

Taking the perspective of banking employees in a Sub-Saharan African nation, this study focused on the moderating role of organisational and social support on the link between occupational stress and burnout. In contributing to knowledge and practice, we made a case that organisational support (OS) and social support (SS) are precursors of burnout and also moderators in the stress-burnout link. The study relied on data collected using questionnaires from 411 bank employees in Ghana and examined its propositions using hierarchical regression analysis after validating the instrument using CFA. Results obtained indicated that stress has the strongest association (positive) with burnout. This was followed by OS (negative), and then SS (negative). In terms of the moderating role, only OS was found to significantly marginalise the positive effect that stress has on burnout. Based on these results, we concluded that while job stress cannot be entirely eliminated, internal avenues and managerial actions that escalate job stress should be controlled. In addition, the study suggested that the industry puts in place supportive work atmosphere and help employees to develop and strengthen social connections and interactions that employees have outside their organisations.