The interplay between relational and transactional psychological contracts and burnout and engagement

Abstract

Being aware of the interplay between an individual type of workplace psychological contract and burnout and engagement experiences is relevant when responding to scholastic calls for a greater understanding of the underlying psychological mechanisms influencing individual experiences. Prior studies have digressed from understanding this phenomenon in its entirety and consequently the complexity of the interplay as well as the outcomes involved were less understood. This paper provides a nuanced knowledge about individual burnout and engagement through the lens of relational and transactional contracts in a cross-national context. Specifically, this was explored through asking the question ‘How relational and transactional psychological contracts explain burnout and engagement experiences of cross-national academics?‘. A qualitative approach was adopted using semi-structured interviews with 20 Australian and 20 Malaysian university academics. The outcomes of the analysis first revealed that, Australian academics’ contracts were primarily more transactional while Malaysian academics’ contracts were primarily more relational. Second, the interplay between individual relational and transactional contracts and burnout and engagement experiences was found to be moderately elusive for both Australian and Malaysian academics. The outcomes also revealed both direct and indirect influences to explicate the interplay.