Core Burnout Research Articles

“On the roots of interpersonal strain at work: The role of burnout and social self-efficacy”

This study questions whether interpersonal strain at work (i.e., a measure of disengagement and withdrawal from others) is an outcome of burnout rather than a core facet of the syndrome by adopting the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) framework (Schaufeli et al., 2020). The BAT distinguishes between core (i.e., exhaustion, mental distance, emotional and cognitive impairment) and secondary symptoms. In doing so, the study conceptualizes a process in which individual differences in one's beliefs about nurturing and capitalizing from social relationships in the workplace (i.e., social self-efficacy) and the burnout symptom of emotional impairment (i.e., deterioration of self–regulatory control on negative emotions) operate in concert in determining interpersonal strain. To test our predictions, a two-wave study using a sample of 346 white collar workers from a government agency was designed. Results revealed that, among the core burnout symptoms, emotional impairment predicted unique variance in interpersonal strain at work after two years. Furthermore, social self–efficacy beliefs were associated with a significant decrease in emotional impairment, which, in turn, mediated the longitudinal relation between social self–efficacy and interpersonal strain. Theoretical and practical implications of our results, as well as the limitations of our study, are discussed.

A longitudinal examination of appraisal, coping, stress, and mental health in students: A cross-lagged panel network analysis.

In their seminal Transactional Theory of Stress, Lazarus and Folkman described a complex adaptation mechanism that involves appraisal and coping processes that lead to the subjective experience of stress. In this study, we examined the temporal order of all components of this theory using a cross-lagged panel analysis. A sample of 354 students (62.10% female, mean age=20.63y.o.) participated in a 5-week study and completed weekly self-reported measures of prospective appraisal, coping, core burnout, and mental health (i.e. depression, anxiety, and stress). Using cross-lagged panel network analyses, we analyzed how each measured variable is predicted by all variables from the previous measurement moment. Convergent with the transactional stress theory, we found that threat appraisals and negative self-perception predicted future anxiety and depression. Contrary to expectations, core burnout and somatization emerged as significant predictors of poor mental health outcomes, suggesting a self-perpetuating spiral. Furthermore, our study highlighted the importance of recognizing the bidirectional connections between appraisals, coping strategies, and mental well-being.

AWARENESS: A TOOL FOR BURNOUT IMMUNITY

AbstractThe author is a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, a well‐known researcher and speaker on burnout, emotional intelligence, and resilience; and developer of the Burnout Quiz. The article discusses burnout in the context of awareness and self‐awareness, based on her research. She contends that “leaders who display social awareness—the ability to accurately understand the impact of our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors on others, and to understand and share the feelings of others—are better at decision‐making, coaching and engaging their teams, and communication and collaboration.” However, “when leaders are burned out, it’s never just an individual problem. Entire teams and even organizations can suffer when leaders lose motivation and energy, struggle with their ability to influence people, make poorer (and often slower) decisions, and spread an attitude of cynicism throughout organizations.” She discusses what she terms “core burnout immunity awareness skills.” These are, in her words, Awareness of what triggers your workplace stress; Awareness of what increases your sensitivity to stress; Awareness of your tipping point between good stress and bad stress; and Awareness of your burnout risk level.

Work climate, motivation, emotional exhaustion, and continuance intention in sport volunteers: A two-wave prospective survey

Retaining volunteers is critical for sport and social development. This two-wave prospective survey was conducted to examine the relationship between sport volunteers’ work climate, motivation, emotional exhaustion (core burnout dimension), and continuance intention to volunteer for sporting events. Volunteers (n = 160) completed a survey measuring work climate and motivation at baseline (T1), and another survey measuring emotional exhaustion and continuance intention at follow-up with one-month interval (T2). Results of path analysis showed that T1 work climate was a significant positive predictor of T1 autonomous motivation and a negative one of T1 controlled motivation. T1 controlled motivation significantly and positively predicted T2 emotional exhaustion, but T1 autonomous motivation was not a significant predictor of T2 emotional exhaustion. T2 emotional exhaustion was a significant negative predictor of T2 continuance intention. These findings suggest the need to decrease volunteers’ controlled motivation and emotional exhaustion for volunteer retention.

Sensory Processing, Perceived Stress and Burnout Symptoms in a Working Population during the COVID-19 Crisis

Although previous research suggests an association between sensory processing and perceived stress in a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, it remains unclear whether this phenomenon occurs independently from psychopathology. The present study investigated the association between sensory processing patterns, perceived stress and occupational burnout as a stress-related condition in a working population. We focused on different aspects of sensory processing and used the momentum of a particularly stressful period: during the first months of the global COVID-19 crisis. A total of 116 workers at a mental healthcare institution in The Netherlands completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT). Our results demonstrated that higher scores on sensory sensitivity and low registration were associated with higher scores on perceived stress and core burnout symptoms. Sensory hypersensitivity was also associated with more secondary burnout symptoms. Associations were not driven by underlying sensory-related disorders (e.g., ASD or ADHD). In conclusion, sensory processing difficulties are relevant predictors of stress and occupational burnout, also in healthy employees. This phenomenon warrants further attention, as relatively simple adjustments in working environment may possess important preventive effects.

The physical activity paradox: a longitudinal study of the implications for burnout

PurposeThis study investigates the independent and interactive associations of physical job demands and three types of off-job physical activity (during transportation, household, and recreation) with burnout. We use a recently proposed new conceptualization and assessment of burnout including core and secondary burnout symptoms. We predicted that physical job demands would be positively and the three types of off-job physical activity would be negatively related to burnout. Further, we hypothesized that the negative relations between the three types of off-job physical activity and burnout would be stronger for employees with low (vs. high) physical job demands.MethodsTo test our hypotheses, we conducted a two-wave survey study among a heterogeneous sample of full-time workers (N = 355), using a longitudinal design with a half-year time lag. We tested cross-sectional, prospective and longitudinal relations.ResultsHierarchical regression analyses partly confirmed our predictions. Cross-sectionally and prospectively, it was shown that physical job demands were positively related to burnout symptoms. In addition, off-job physical activity was negatively related to primary and secondary burnout symptoms among employees with low physical job demands and positively related to burnout symptoms among employees with high physical job demands. However, these relationships disappeared when investigated longitudinally.ConclusionTogether, these findings suggest that not all off-job physical activities can prevent burnout, and that potential positive effects of physical activity during off-job time may depend on employees’ physical activity level at work.

The mediating role of COVID-19-related burden in the association between adverse childhood experiences and emotional exhaustion: results of the egePan – VOICE study

ABSTRACT Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk for mental health problems. However, there is a lack of data targeting the role of ACEs for one of the most prevalent mental health problems in health-care professionals: burnout. Objective: We aimed to assess the relationship between ACEs and the core burnout dimension ‘emotional exhaustion’ (EE). As health-care professionals have been facing particular challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, we furthermore aimed to assess the role of COVID-19 associated burden in the interplay between ACEs and EE. Methods: During the first lockdown in Germany, a total of 2500 medical healthcare professionals were questioned in a cross-sectional online survey. Questions targeted, among others, sociodemographics, ACEs, COVID-19-associated problems (e.g. increase of workload, worries about relatives and patients) and emotional exhaustion, measured by the respective dimension of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Results: In German health-care professionals, ACEs were associated with a higher EE score. The number of experienced ACEs was associated with the majority of assessed COVID-19-associated problems. An increasing number of ACEs predicted higher EE scores, controlling for gender. The association between ACEs and EE was mediated significantly by COVID-19-associated problems. These included maladaptive coping strategies such as increased smoking, drinking and use of antidepressants/tranquilizers, feeling less protected by measures of the employee or the state, a greater feeling of being burdened by COVID-19-associated problems and greater exhaustion and sleep problems. Conclusion: Our findings suggest ACEs as significant risk factor for EE in German health-care professionals. The current pandemic means a significant burden that further pronounces this risk.

The role of Dark Triad on the link between Emotional Labor and Core Burnout

This study investigates whether the Dark Triad personality traits could be potential moderators of the relationship between the emotional labor and core burnout. The nonexperimental, cross-sectional study was based on a sample of 158 participants from different fields of activity. The results show that only narcissism (at medium and high scores) acts weakly as a moderator for the positive relation between emotional labor and burnout and, contrary to our hypothesis, it buffers the negative effects of emotional labor. These results can be explained in terms of Narcissism' conceptualization and are consistent with the newest proposed distinction form the literature between adaptive and maladaptive nature of this trait. Meanwhile the effects of the other moderators are insignificant. The results highlight both the importance of the emotional factor at work and the role of Dark Triad personality factors for core burnout.

Core Burnout and Power in Portuguese Nursing Staff: An Explanatory Model Based on Structural Empowerment.

In the nursing context, structural empowerment has proved to be an organizational tool leading to the prevention of stress and burnout. Structural empowerment is defined as the perception of the presence or absence of empowering conditions in the workplace. However, few studies have explored the particular relationships between power in organizations, structural empowerment, and burnout. The aim of this study was to examine the mediator role of structural empowerment (access to opportunities, information, support, and resources) in the relationship between formal and informal power, and core burnout among Portuguese nurses. We administered a questionnaire among a convenience sample of 304 nurses employed in public hospitals. Model fit and mediation analysis were conducted using path analysis and bootstrapping methods. Formal power, informal power, access to opportunities, and access to resources were significant and negative predictors of core burnout. Opportunities, resources, and informal power had a direct influence on core burnout. Formal power and informal power showed an indirect influence, mediated by opportunities and resources, on core burnout. These findings suggest that by providing nurses with high levels of formal and informal power, as well as access to resources and opportunities, their risk of core burnout can be lowered.

The Role of Psychological Strengths, Coping Strategies and Well-Being in the Prediction of Academic Engagement and Burnout in First-Year University Students

Two of the most significant challenges that higher education institutions are currently addressing are students' failure and drop-out prevention, as well as the promotion of students’ retention and success. The present study aimed at analysing the role that different variables play in the prediction of Academic Engagement and Burnout in first-year university students, under a multivariate perspective. The contribution of relevant psychological strengths in academic environments (Resilience, Personal initiative, and Academic Motivation), Procrastination and different coping strategies facing studies (Persistence, Avoidance and Anxiety) was explored. Also, the perception of academic demands and stress, students' affect (positive and negative) and the academic satisfaction was considered. Finally, an analysis of different engaged and burnt-out profiles of students was carried out. The contribution of the Efficacy subscale of Academic Burnout as an independent personal resource, and the consideration of the so-called Core Burnout, were subject of analysis. A sample of 172 first-year students of face-to-face universities, 68.8% women with a mean age of 22.99 years (SD = 7.62) volunteered to participate online in this study. The results showed, on the one hand, that Academic Engagement consisted mainly on a positive and intrinsic motivational construct, also characterised by academic efficacy, persistence as an active coping strategy, positive affect and satisfaction. On the other hand Core Burnout was mainly characterised by the perception of higher demands (e.g. academic overload), maladaptive learning behaviours and coping strategies such as procrastination and avoidance of difficulties, negative affect and dissatisfaction. Different profiles of engaged and burnt-out students were also analysed showing strong differences regarding personal strengths, coping with learning strategies, well-being and satisfaction with studies.These results could help us to set bases for the development of early support and prevention programs for students’ Burnout, as well as actions aiming at promoting students’ Engagement and well-being during their first academic year.

How learning conditions and Program structure predict burnout and satisfaction in teacher education

To support prospective teachers’ professional development, teacher education should be characterised by conditions that help to prevent burnout and facilitate satisfaction. This study investigates predictors of burnout and satisfaction in teacher education by drawing on universities with different teacher education programme structures and assumed different learning conditions. Programme structure and student characteristics were conceived as antecedents of perceived learning conditions; burnout dimensions and student satisfaction were hypothesised to be consequences of both the distal and more proximal variables. Data were collected at four time points from N = 3,892 students enrolled in teacher education at 13 universities. Structural equation modelling revealed favourable effects of autonomy support, competence support, and social relatedness on the core burnout dimensions and satisfaction. Effects of programme structure on these outcomes were small and mediated by autonomy support and difficulty of demands. Study self-efficacy emerged as a broad personal resource. Implications for teacher education are discussed.

Empowerment, stress vulnerability and burnout among Portuguese nursing staff

The work environment in Portuguese hospitals, characterized by economic cutbacks, can lead to higher levels of burnout experienced by nursing staff. Furthermore, vulnerability to stress can negatively affect the perception of burnout in the workplace. However, structural empowerment is an organizational process that can prevent and decrease burnout among nurses. Consequently, the aim of the study was to examine to what extent structural empowerment and vulnerability to stress can play a predictive role in core burnout in a sample of Portuguese nurses. A convenience sample of 297 nursing staff members from Portuguese hospitals was used in this study. Core burnout was negatively and significantly related to all the dimensions of structural empowerment, and it was positively and significantly related to vulnerability to stress. Regression models showed that core burnout was significantly predicted by access to funds, access to opportunities and vulnerability to stress. Organizational administrations must make every effort in designing interventions focused on structural empowerment, as well as interventions focused on individual interventions that enhance skills for coping with stress.

Neurophysiological Markers of Emotion Processing in Burnout Syndrome.

The substantial body of research employing subjective measures indicates that burnout syndrome is associated with cognitive and emotional dysfunctions. The growing amount of neurophysiological and neuroimaging research helps in broadening existing knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying core burnout components (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization/cynicism) that are inextricably associated with emotional processing. In the presented EEG study, a group of 93 participants (55 women; mean age = 35.8) were selected for the burnout group or the demographically matched control group on the basis of the results of the Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS). Subjects then participated in an EEG experiment using two experimental procedures: a facial recognition task and viewing of passive pictures. The study focuses on analyzing event-related potentials (ERPs): N170, VPP, EPN, and LPP, as indicators of emotional information processing. Our results show that burnout subjects, as compared to the control group, demonstrate significantly weaker response to affect-evoking stimuli, indexed by a decline in VPP amplitude to emotional faces and decreased EPN amplitude in processing emotional scenes. The analysis of N170 and LPP showed no significant between-group difference. The correlation analyses revealed that VPP and EPN, which are ERP components related to emotional processing, are associated with two core burnout symptoms: emotional exhaustion and cynicism. To our knowledge, we are one of the first research groups to use ERPs to demonstrate such a relationship between neurophysiological activity and burnout syndrome in the context of emotional processing. Thus, in conclusion we emphasized that the decreased amplitude of VPP and EPN components in the burnout group may be a neurophysiological manifestation of emotional blunting and may be considered as neurophysiological markers of emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Additionally, we did not observe a decrease in LPP, which may be considered as a marker that significantly differentiates burnout from depression.

Structural empowerment and burnout among Portuguese nursing staff: An explicative model.

Kanter's structural empowerment model was used to assess the influence of access to opportunities, resources, information and support on core burnout through global empowerment in a nursing sample in Portugal. The empowerment experience increases the levels of nursing professionals' satisfaction and performance preventing the emergence of burnout. However, the relationship between structural empowerment and burnout has been scarcely studied in Portugal. We conducted a cross-sectional correlational study assessing a final sample of 297 participants (62.13% response rate, 63.64% women). Model fit and mediation test were examined using structural equation modelling (path analysis). Access to opportunities and access to support had direct impact, through global empowerment, on core burnout, whereas access to resources had both direct and indirect impact on core burnout. The results validated the structural empowerment model and its application in nursing staff in Portugal. Professional training plans, the development of formal and informal support networks, and the availability of resources increase the levels of empowerment and decrease the likelihood of experiencing burnout in nursing professionals.

Cognitive Impairments in Occupational Burnout - Error Processing and Its Indices of Reactive and Proactive Control.

The presented study refers to cognitive aspects of burnout as the effects of long-term work-related stress. The purpose of the study was to investigate electrophysiological correlates of burnout to explain the mechanisms of the core burnout symptoms: exhaustion and depersonalization/cynicism. The analyzed error-related electrophysiological markers shed light on impaired cognitive mechanisms and the specific changes in information-processing in burnout. In the EEG study design (N = 80), two components of error-related potential (ERP), error-related negativity (ERN), and error positivity (Pe), were analyzed. In the non-clinical burnout group (N = 40), a significant increase in ERN amplitude and a decrease in Pe amplitude were observed compared to controls (N = 40). Enhanced error detection, indexed by increased ERN amplitude, and diminished response monitoring, indexed by decreased Pe amplitude, reveal emerging cognitive problems in the non-clinical burnout group. Cognitive impairments in burnout subjects relate to both reactive and unconscious (ERN) and proactive and conscious (Pe) aspects of error processing. The results indicate a stronger ‘reactive control mode’ that can deplete resources for proactive control and the ability to actively maintain goals. The analysis refers to error processing and specific task demands, thus should not be extended to cognitive processes in general. The characteristics of ERP patterns in burnout resemble psychophysiological indexes of anxiety (increased ERN) and depressive symptoms (decreased Pe), showing to some extent an overlapping effect of burnout and related symptoms and disorders. The results support the scarce existing data on the psychobiological nature of burnout, while extending and specifying its cognitive characteristics.

Burnout and the Fine‐Tuning of Cognitive Resources

SummaryWe examined the performance in a constant foreperiod task in two samples screened for either high or low scores on the core burnout dimension emotional exhaustion. In line with our expectations, participants scoring high on emotional exhaustion exhibited a specific deficit with respect to maintaining a high level of response readiness at longer foreperiods. This demonstration of a modulation of constant foreperiod performance by burnout adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that exhaustion is related to deficits in basic cognitive mechanisms underlying the fine‐tuning of cognitive resources according to task demands. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Burnout among physical education teachers working in upper primary and secondary schools of government and private sector in Kerala

The present study examined whether physical education teachers working in government/aided sector and private sector of upper primary and secondary schools experience the same burnout levels. One hundred twenty full-time Kerala physical education teachers from government/aided and private (60 each) of upper primary and secondary schools filled in the “educator's” version of Maslach Burnout Inventory. Analysis of variance showed that physical education teachers working in the upper primary schools reported significantly and meaningfully higher levels on the core burnout dimension, namely emotional exhaustion” in comparison to their colleagues in the secondary schools. Moreover, the strength of association among the three burnout components were more prominent in private sector than in government sector. The results shows that the education level in which physical education teachers working represents an important job characteristic that influences burnout levels and should be taken into consideration when this syndrome is examined, at least within the Kerala educational system.

Correlates of physician burnout across regions and specialties: a meta-analysis.

BackgroundHealth care organizations globally realize the need to address physician burnout due to its close linkages with quality of care, retention and migration. The many functions of health human resources include identifying and managing burnout risk factors for health professionals, while also promoting effective coping. Our study of physician burnout aims to show: (1) which correlates are most strongly associated with emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP), and (2) whether the associations vary across regions and specialties.MethodsMeta-analysis allowed us to examine a diverse range of correlates. Our search yielded 65 samples of physicians from various regions and specialties.ResultsEE was negatively associated with autonomy, positive work attitudes, and quality and safety culture. It was positively associated with workload, constraining organizational structure, incivility/conflicts/violence, low quality and safety standards, negative work attitudes, work-life conflict, and contributors to poor mental health. We found a similar but weaker pattern of associations for DP.Physicians in the Americas experienced lower EE levels than physicians in Europe when quality and safety culture and career development opportunities were both strong, and when they used problem-focused coping. The former experienced higher EE levels when work-life conflict was strong and they used ineffective coping. Physicians in Europe experienced lower EE levels than physicians in the Americas with positive work attitudes. We found a similar but weaker pattern of associations for DP.Outpatient specialties experienced higher EE levels than inpatient specialties when organization structures were constraining and contributors to poor mental health were present. The former experienced lower EE levels when autonomy was present. Inpatient specialties experienced lower EE levels than outpatient specialties with positive work attitudes. As above, we found a similar but weaker pattern of associations for DP.ConclusionsAlthough we could not infer causality, our findings suggest: (1) that EE represents the core burnout dimension; (2) that certain individual and organizational-level correlates are associated with reduced physician burnout; (3) the benefits of directing resources where they are most needed to physicians of different regions and specialties; and (4) a call for research to link physician burnout with performance.

P03-408 - Work stress, social support, and burnout in junior doctors: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundBurnout is known to be higher in doctors than in the general population and is associated with adverse patient outcomes. By identifying factors that can lead to burnout, interventions can be implemented to support the health of the workforce and improve patient care.AimThe aim of this study is to (1) look at whether psychiatric trainees differ from medical trainees in the work−related stress they experience and the social support they perceive, within and outside the workplace. It also aims to (2) look at whether social support can mediate the stressor-burnout relationship in trainees.MethodThe sample consisted of 184 London based trainees. Participants were administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory (strain), the Specialist Doctors’ Stress Inventory (stressors) and the House and Wells social support scale. To explore the pathways and potential mediating effect of social support within the stressor-burnout relationship structural equation modeling was applied to the data.Results42% of all doctors exhibited high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Medical trainees were significantly more burnt out than psychiatric trainees (p < .01). Occupational stressors were significantly correlated with the core burnout dimensions. Family, consultant and top management support demonstrated significant correlations with burnout dimensions whereas co-worker support failed to reach significance. Direct, indirect and mediational pathways between study variables were found.ConclusionPsychological distress is still prevalent amongst our junior workforce. Medical trainees appear to exhibit more severe levels of burnout and suggestions to improve psychological wellbeing are discussed.

Sustainable urban community development from the grassroots: Challenges and opportunities in a pedestrian street initiative

A local sustainable development initiative to establish a temporary pedestrian zone within a Canadian urban community served as a research study into the efficacy of social capital in the development of a network for community action. This community-based initiative used social capital to overcome campaign obstacles and the campaign itself generated new social capital within the neighbourhood through the creation of adaptive networks of participants. The campaign succeeded in creating a part-time pedestrian-only space that serves as an educational example of change for sustainable community development that is replicable in other communities, and provides an example of alternative occupation of community space. Contrary to other literature, little evidence of “core burnout” was found although the network does continue to expend a large amount of effort and time on fundraising. While social capital is a powerful tool for local grassroots action, the availability of a critical source of economic capital may prove vital to the long-term success and sustainability of the network.