The Impact of Family Resources, Control Coping, and Skill Utilization on the Development of Burnout: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Mental health workers (N= 122) provided information regarding burnout, coping styles, and resources in their work setting and their family. Resources from both work setting and family were found to be related to subsequent levels of burnout at a 6-month interval. A LISREL model testing procedure provided support for the hypothesis that each resource area, family, work setting, and coping style, was independently related to changes in burnout over time. Each of the three aspects of psychological burnout showed a distinct relationship with the resource measures. Emotional exhaustion was related only to family resources, while depersonalization was related to both work-setting and family resources. Diminished personal accomplishment was not related to family resources, but was related to both work-setting resources and coping styles. The implications of the results for including family coping in a model of burnout and occupational stress are discussed.