Professional Inefficacy Research Articles

The Role of Fulfilment and Disillusion in the Relationship between Burnout and Career Satisfaction in Italian Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers’ stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, whose mid-term negative effects are still present. The aim of this work was to consider the effects of burnout (psychophysical exhaustion, relational deterioration, and professional inefficacy) on the career satisfaction of healthcare workers. These relationships were evaluated by considering the direct and mediated effects of disillusion. For these purposes, the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ) and the Career Satisfaction Scale (Occupational Stress Indicator—OSI) were administered to 295 healthcare professionals working at three Italian public hospitals in Cagliari, Italy. The analyses were conducted using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) method. Outcomes highlighted that healthcare workers were in a condition of work distress, high risk of burnout, and career dissatisfaction. Also recognized was the direct negative effect of burnout dimensions on career satisfaction. Finally, the mediated negative effect of disillusion in the relationship between burnout and career satisfaction was identified. This study underlines the relevance of the dimension of disillusion, and its “bright side” fulfilment, in healthcare workers, specifically referring to the disregarded relationship between burnout and career satisfaction.

Burnout Levels in Nurses and Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Previous studies have shown that sudden changes in the nature of nursing work and their work environment related to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the professional experience of nurses, and consequently led to an increase in professional burnout in this professional group. Thus, the aim of the study was to measure occupational burnout among nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. A cross-sectional study was conducted with pediatric and surgery female nurses (N = 110, mean age 51 ± 6.92) from the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Włocławek, Poland. The participants completed the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ) and the Socio-Demographic Questionnaire (SDQ). The data were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U test. The study showed that high burnout affected 6.4% of nurses. The level of professional burnout for the subscales of psychophysical exhaustion, relationship deterioration, professional inefficacy and disappointment was 28.2%, 26.4%, 11.8% and 13%, respectively (mean score: 19.85 ± 6.51, 18.03 ± 5.15, 13.74 ± 4.07 and 17.61 ± 5.85, respectively). The results show that surgical nurses were statistically more likely to experience professional burnout. In sum, burnout among nurses has become a serious problem, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why it is so important to continue research in this area. Hospital management needs to take urgent action to address the systemic and professional issues that contribute to the suboptimal mental health of nurses.

The Influence of Defence Mechanism on Academic Burnout and Associated Profiles among Undergraduate Students

This cross-sectional study investigated the role of defence mechanism in academic burnout and its associated profiles. 248 females and 210 males, aged 16 to 30 years (M = 19.87, SD = 2.338) participated in the study. 56.9% were from Covenant University and 43.01% from Lagos State University. Data was collected using Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey for Students and Defence Mechanism Rating Scale-Self-Report Scale 30. Results indicated that students predominantly utilizing mature defence mechanisms reported lower mean scores for emotional exhaustion and cynicism, but higher for professional efficacy. Binomial logistic regression showed that, overall defensive functioning significantly predicted the occurrence of negative burnout profiles indicative of high emotional exhaustion, cynicism, or professional inefficacy (X² (1) = 19.252, p < 0.05). However, the prediction of the specific burnout profile was not supported (X² (1) = 1.405, p > 0.05). Mature defensive functioning significantly predicted the positive engagement profile (X² (1) = 27.040, p < 0.05). These findings underline the complex interplay between defence mechanisms and burnout. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how defence mechanisms influence academic burnout and highlights the potential for interventions targeting adaptive defence strategies to mitigate burnout’s negative impacts.

Embitterment in the Workplace: How Does It Associate with Burnout and What Triggers It?

Aim/Purpose: Embitterment comprises a stress-related response to unjust life experiences. Studies have found that it can have a toll on employees’ well-being. However, research on this matter is still in its infancy. Background: Within the scope of the present study, Ι sought to investigate how embitterment relates to burnout – the prolonged consequence of stress. This study further explored whether breaches of psychological contracts can trigger embitterment. Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional design where two hundred and eight (N = 208) participants from the general population completed an online survey. Contribution: Findings suggest that the toll of embitterment might be much more than what research has suggested so far. Those who experience embitterment can become emotionally exhausted and cynical and these findings can be especially useful when identifying embitterment. Findings: It was found that embitterment related to higher burnout levels and more specifically emotional exhaustion and cynicism. No significant findings were revealed for the relationship between professional inefficacy and embitterment. Also, psychological contract breach was found to be a significant predictor of embitterment, supporting further the notion that perceptions of injustice can trigger feelings of embitterment. Results also showed that embitterment mediated the relationship between psychological contract breach and burnout. Recommendation for Researchers: The study highlights the notion that fairness is a key precursor of embitterment, and this finding is essential when developing interventions to prevent embitterment from arising. Future Research: Future research could use a longitudinal study design to unravel whether burnout represents a precondition or the consequence of embitterment. Future research should also include more objective measures. For example, it would be useful to pair self-report data with more objective measures on embitterment (e.g. clinical interviews).

Dilemmas and Repercussions of Workplace Violence against Emergency Nurses: A Qualitative Study.

Nurses received the highest rate of workplace violence due to their close interaction with clients and the nature of their work. There have been relatively few qualitative studies focus on nurses’ perceptions of and experiences with the antecedents, dilemma and repercussions of the patient and visitor violence (PVV), leaving a considerable evidence gap. The aim of this study was to explore nurses’ experience of PVV in emergency department, the impact of PVV on quality of care, and supports needed after exposure to such incidents. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive and snowball sample of nurses, and analyzed the content of the interview transcripts. A total of 10 nurses were approached and agreed to participate. Those participants ranged in age from 24 to 41 years old, eight female and two male nurses, and the majority of them (80%) held a university Bachelor degree in nursing. The average time in nursing practice was 7.2 years. We conceptualized five analytical themes, which comprised: (1) multifaceted triggers and causes of PVV; (2) experiences following PVV; (3) tangled up in thoughts and struggle with the professional role; (4) self-reflexivity and adjustment; and, (5) needs of organizational efforts and support following PVV. This paper provides compelling reasons to look beyond solely evaluating the existence of workplace, and considering the perceived professional inefficacy, impacts of being threatened or assaulted in nurses. There are also urgent needs in provision of prevention and management of workplace training programs to ensure the high-quality nursing care.

The effect of burnout and its dimensions on turnover intention among nurses: A meta-analytic review.

The objective of this study is elaborating on the relationship between burnout and turnover intention. Burnout and its dimensions have a significant effect on turnover intention. Meta-analysis technique is used. Forty-four studies were brought together to form four data sets. These data sets were heterogeneous, and they did not include publication bias. The effect sizes of burnout, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and professional efficacy on turnover intention among nurses were computed. Random-effects model was used. The groups including two or more studies were added into moderator analysis. The effect size of the relationship between professional efficacy and turnover intention was small, and the effect size of the other surveyed reationships was medium among both nurses and other health employees. The moderator analysis results suggested that the effect size of the relationship between professional efficacy and turnover intention among nurses is significantly different from the other health employees. Being a nurse was determined as a significant moderator for the relationship between professional inefficacy and turnover intention, and it weakened this relationship. The findings of this study can be used by health managers as burnout and turnover intention are important to determine organizational policies.

Detached Concern

This study attempted to apply the concept of detached concern, an attitude that service workers may have towards customers, to Korean samples. In Study 1, the original detached concern scale was translated into Korean and then back-translated for comparison and refinement. The Korean detached concern scale was then validated with a sample of 143 full-time, overage Korean workers using three facets of burnout as the criteria. The results of confirmatory factor analyses indicated that detachment and concern were two independent facets. Also, the response surface graph showed that professional inefficacy significantly decreased when detachment and concern matched at high levels rather than at low levels. In Study 2, we examined whether detached concern would predict the three facets of work engagement after a month with 374 Korean customer service workers using the scale validated in Study 1. We also hypothesized that job control would weaken the relationships. All variables were measured twice with a one-month interval. Polynomial regressions revealed that detachment and concern measured at Time 1 jointly had significant effects on all facets of work engagement measured at Time 2. Also, the moderating effects of job control were observed but different for all three facets. These results suggest that detached concern may play an important role in the psychological well-being of emotional labor workers. Based on these findings, academic and practical implications were discussed along with suggestions for future research.

Burnout and workplace dehumanization at the supermarket: A field study during the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy.

This study explores the psychological effects of the COVID‐19 emergency on workers employed in the supermarket sector by analysing their levels of burnout and the relationship between the burnout syndrome and employees' workplace experiences. A sample of 422 Italian workers answered a survey addressing the burnout dimensions (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inefficacy) along with perceived organizational factors and dehumanizing representations. Results showed that 32% of the respondents had symptoms of severe burnout, and 41% had symptoms of exhaustion and cynicism. More specifically, through cluster analysis, four burnout profiles were identified: “burnout” (high on all three dimensions), “engagement” (low on all three dimensions), “overextended” (high on exhaustion), and “disengaged” (moderate on exhaustion and cynicism). Each cluster showed a different pattern of correlates with the organizational and dehumanizing perceptions. Our findings contribute to the knowledge gaps of burnout and workplace experiences by providing insights into the ongoing health emergency among supermarket clerks. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Development of Korean Version Burnout Syndrome Scale (KBOSS) Using WHO's Definition of Burnout Syndrome.

BackgroundBurnout syndrome (BOS) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. This study aims to create the Korean version burnout syndrome scale (KBOSS) that conforms to WHO’s definition of BOS and present the cut-off points for screening.MethodsWe developed the KBOSS based on WHO’s definition of BOS. An online survey was conducted through a specialized online research company. We recruited 444 workers for this research. The validity of the KBOSS was assessed using factor analysis and Pearson’s correlation. The KBOSS reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The cut-off points for each of the three dimensions were derived using the upper quartile score.ResultsThe validity and reliability of the KBOSS were good. Regarding reliability, the scale’s overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.813. Cronbach’s alpha of each three-dimension was as follows: exhaustion, 0.916; cynicism, 0.865; and professional inefficacy, 0.819. The cut-off points of BOS three dimensions are exhaustion ≧ 21; cynicism ≧ 18; and inefficacy ≧ 15.ConclusionThe developed questionnaire (KBOSS) can be a useful tool for screening of BOS.

A Scoping Review of Burnout in Neurosurgery.

Burnout is a negative workplace syndrome of emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and perceived professional inefficacy that risks the patient-provider relationship, patient care, and physician well-being. To assimilate the neurosurgical burnout literature in order to classify burnout among domestic and international neurosurgeons and trainees, identify contributory factors, and appraise the impact of wellness programs. A scoping review identified the available literature, which was reviewed for key factors related to burnout among neurosurgeons. Two researchers queriedPubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Web of Science for articles on burnout in neurosurgery and reduced 1610 results to 32 articles. A total of 32 studies examined burnout in neurosurgery. A total of 26 studies examined prevalence and 8 studies detailed impact of wellness programs. All were published after 2011. Burnout prevalence was measured mostly through the Maslach Burnout Inventory (n=21). In 4 studies, participants defined their own understanding of "burnout." Domestically, burnout prevalence was 11.2% to 67% among residents and 15% to 57% among attendings. Among trainees, poor operative experience, poor faculty relationships, and social stressors were burnout risks but not age, sex, or marital status. Among attendings, the literature identified financial or legal concerns, lack of intellectual stimulation, and poor work-life balance as risks. The impact of wellness programs on trainees is unclear but group exercises may offer the most benefit. Noticeable methodological differences in studies on trainee and attending burnout contribute to a wide range of neurosurgery burnout estimates and yield significant knowledge gaps. Environment may have greater impact on trainee burnout than demographics. Wellness programs should emphasize solidarity.

Burnout and Engagement Dimensions in the Reception System of Illegal Immigration in the Mediterranean Sea. A Qualitative Study on a Sample of Italian Practitioners.

The present study describes the semantic nature of burnout and engagement in the operators involved in the management of illegal immigration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a sample of Italian practitioners (n = 62) of the two levels of the reception system considered: (1) rescue and first aid and (2) reception and integration. Within the framework of the job demands–resources model (JD-R), the interviews deepened the analysis of the positive and negative dimensions of burnout and engagement: exhaustion versus energy, relational deterioration versus relational involvement, professional inefficacy versus professional efficacy and disillusion versus trust. The interviews were analysed using the T-Lab software, through a cluster analysis (bisecting K-means algorithm), which emphasised noteworthy themes. The results show that, in the vast majority of the dimensions considered (for both levels of reception), the same dimensions of engagement of the operators (energy, relational involvement, professional efficacy and trust) are able to lead them into a condition of burnout, with experiences, conversely, of exhaustion, relational deterioration, professional inefficacy and disillusion. These findings expand the knowledge on burnout and engagement in practitioners of illegal immigration, a context characterised by the value of help and welcome.

Stress Reactivity Influences the Relationship between Emotional Labor Strategies and Job Burnouts among Chinese Hospital Nurses.

Extant studies mostly focused on the buffering role of social and external organizational resources and personal mental resources. However, there is no research exploring the moderating role of personal physiological resources (e.g., stress reactivity). The present study is aimed at examining the interactive effect of emotional labor and stress reactivity on job burnout. The present study utilized cortisol content in a 1 cm hair segment as the biomarker of total stress reactivity in one month. The participants were 229 female hospital nurses randomly recruited from city hospitals, China. They self-reported their emotional labor strategies and job burnout syndromes and provided 1 cm hair segments closest to the scalp two weeks later after the survey. Hair cortisol content was determined with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results revealed that hair cortisol can moderate the associations of surface acting with emotional exhaustion and personal burnout; of deep acting with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal burnout; and of expression of naturally felt emotions with professional inefficacy. In particular, nurses with high cortisol levels not only showed higher emotional exhaustion than those with low cortisol levels under high surface acting but also showed lower emotional exhaustion under low surface acting. A similar situation was true for nurses' emotional exhaustion and depersonalization in the context of deep acting. Nurses with low hair cortisol levels not only showed higher professional inefficacy than those with high hair cortisol levels under low expression of naturally felt emotions but also showed lower professional inefficacy under high expression of naturally felt emotions. Additionally, nurses with high hair cortisol levels showed lower personal burnout than those with low hair cortisol levels under low surface acting or high deep acting. In summary, the interaction pattern between stress reactivity and emotional labor was varied with the nature of emotional labor strategy and job burnout.

‘Professional Inefficacy is the Exact Opposite of the Passionate Social Worker’: Discursive Analysis of Neoliberalism within the Writing on Self-care in Social Work

ABSTRACT Social work experiences notable rates of burnout and subsequent attrition. In the social work academic and practice-based literature, self-care strategies are proposed as a means of mitigating the effects of workplace stress and feelings of emotional exhaustion. However, the neoliberal self-care discourse intended to alleviate feelings of distress may in fact be exacerbating professional burnout. Yet discourse analysis allows for a critical examination of neoliberalism’s discourse of social worker self-care.

From Role Conflict to Job Burnout: A Mediation Model Moderated by Mindfulness

This study examined the moderated mediating effect of mindfulness as an emotional resource on the relationship between role conflict and burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inefficacy) via negative affect. Participants were 481 adult employees in South Korea who provided self‐report data 2 times with a 2‐week interval. The results indicated that mindfulness moderated the relationship between role conflict and negative affect such that the effect of role conflict on negative affect was reduced when mindfulness was high. Furthermore, Time 1 role conflict had conditional indirect effects on 3 facets of burnout measured at Time 2 through Time 1 negative affect depending on the levels of Time 1 mindfulness. The findings suggest that mindfulness may prevent the development of negative affect from role conflict, ultimately reducing the impact of role conflict on burnout. Practitioners should introduce workplace mindfulness programs to help employees cope with burnout more effectively.

Inefficacy: the tipping point of driver burnout

PurposeTruck drivers keep supply chains moving, but driver shortages and high turnover levels plague the industry. The purpose of this research is to examine the three dimensions of Maslach's job burnout model: exhaustion, cynicism and professional inefficacy, as it relates to role stressors and turnover intention. Logistics boundary spanners such as truck drivers appear to be especially susceptible to job burnout. Role theory and organizational support theory were used to develop hypotheses.Design/methodology/approachIndividual level survey data were collected from 190 truck driver respondents (not owner operators) at two large truck stops. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsFindings suggest that the relationship between role stressors and the dimensions of job burnout are not all the same. Role conflict significantly impacts exhaustion and cynicism. Role ambiguity significantly impacts cynicism and inefficacy. Results support a progression through burnout dimensions that begins with exhaustion and ends with inefficacy. Inefficacy was significantly related to intention to stay. Organizational support is a way to help drivers mitigate feelings of inefficacy.Practical implicationsManagers in trucking organizations can track burnout levels in their drivers using the Maslach Burnout Inventory with a specific focus on monitoring feelings of inefficacy, which may help lower turnover levels.Originality/valueThe findings support that the burnout dimension of inefficacy is the strongest indicator that a driver is considering leaving his current organization or the industry. This is contrary to other studies that have focused on the other two burnout dimensions.

JOB BURNOUT: A GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Job Burnout is different work-related stress syndrome portrayed by three-dimension Emotional Exhaustion, Professional inefficacy, and Cynicism. Earlier burnout research has centered on the human service professions such as nursing and teaching, where they are assumed to be the most exposed to experience burnout. However, Burnout is not confined only to social service professions but spreads to other working professions such as banking employees and managers. This paper traces the evolution of Job Burnout. It addresses the factors and the Outgrowths of job burnout and the intervention strategies to decrease or overcome it. It also presents the primary measurement of Job Burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Burnout Measure (BM), and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). Lastly, the paper closes with a brief conclusion.

Years of service, self-efficacy, stress and burnout among Polish firefighters.

The aim of the research was to analyze the impact of selected factors: years of service, the number of interventions, self-efficacy and stress, on occupational burnout. It was hypothesized that firefighters with more years of service and a bigger number of interventions would be characterized by higher perceived stress and burnout, and that self-efficacy would have an impact on reducing the level of perceived stress and burnout. The participants were firefighters (N = 576) from 12 Polish voivodeships, aged 20-58 years, with different seniority: up to 3, 4-8, 9-15 or >15 years of service. The following research tools were used: the Link Burnout Questionnaire, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, and an independent questionnaire to gather additional information. A correlation between particular variables was carried out; the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed together with a post-hoc analysis to examine differences in the severity of individual variables depending on seniority, followed by a path analysis studied together with the identification of direct and indirect impacts. The number of interventions did not affect the severity of experienced stress or any of the aspects of burnout. Work experience directly influenced the level of perceived stress (β = 0.219), disillusion (β = 0.076), and relationship deterioration (β = -0.156). The generalized sense of self-efficacy was found to impact both on reducing the sense of stress (β = -0.418) and on all 4 aspects of professional burnout: psychophysical exhaustion (β = -0.181), relationship deterioration (β = -0.16), the sense of professional inefficacy (β = -0.275) and disillusion (β = -0.143). The results have shown that: 1) the number of interventions does not affect the severity of experienced stress or particular aspects of burnout; 2) years of service increase the severity of experienced stress and occupational burnout; 3) self-efficacy has an impact both on reducing the sense of stress and on all aspects of burnout. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(3):283-97.

Burnout-Depression Overlap: Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Bifactor Analysis and Network Analysis.

Burnout has been viewed as a work-induced condition combining exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inefficacy. Using correlational analyses, an exploratory structural equation modeling bifactor analysis, structural regression analyses, and a network analysis, we examined the claim that burnout should not be mistaken for a depressive syndrome. The study involved 1,258 educational staff members. Burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Illegitimate work tasks and work-nonwork interferences were additionally measured. We notably found that (a) on average, exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inefficacy correlated less strongly with each other than with depression; (b) exhaustion-burnout's core-was more strongly associated with depression than with either cynicism or professional inefficacy; (c) the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 did not correlate more strongly with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale than with exhaustion; (d) exhaustion and depression loaded primarily on a general distress/dysphoria factor in the exploratory structural equation modeling bifactor analysis; (e) on average, burnout and depression were related to job stressors in a similar manner; (f) work-nonwork interferences were strongly linked to distress/dysphoria. Overall, burnout showed no syndromal unity and lacked discriminant validity. Clinicians should systematically assess depressive symptoms in individuals presenting with a complaint of "burnout."

Relationship of Burnout and Engagement to Pharmacy Students’ Perception of Their Academic Ability

Objective. To assess burnout and engagement in first- and second-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students and to investigate their relationships to students' perception of their academic ability. Methods. An online survey that included three validated scales was administered in May 2017 to first- and second-year pharmacy students enrolled in didactic coursework at Touro University California College of Pharmacy. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to assess burnout and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was used to measure student engagement. To characterize academic ability, Academic Self-Perception, a subscale of the School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised, was used. Regression analysis was performed using statistical software. Results. One hundred sixty-two students (81.4% response rate) completed the survey. Emotional exhaustion and professional inefficacy were negatively correlated with students' academic self-perception. Dedication was positively correlated with academic self-perception. Conclusion. In pharmacy students completing the didactic portion of the PharmD curriculum, various engagement and burnout parameters correlated with academic self-perception.

Race-Making in Schools of Choice: Teacher Narrative Construction of the Black Interloper

Background Blacks are commonly targeted as a population that will benefit from school choice. Drawing upon market theory, school choice advocates argue that educational opportunity will increase for Blacks and other underserved populations when schools are required to compete for students. With choice, the historically underserved can presumably opt into schools that will provide their children higher quality education that confers better educational outcomes. To date, the promise of choice remains unfulfilled. Purpose/Objective We examine one underexplored factor that may contribute to the unfulfilled promise of school choice: how professionals make meaning of the very students who are expected to most benefit (in this case Black students) and how this meaning-making may compromise the prospect of greater educational opportunity via choice. In particular, we explore the stories teachers tell about Black students in the course of making meaning of Black underperformance as a professional “problem” and their own role in resolving this problem. Of special concern is how teachers racialize Black students via their narration of the status and experience of these youth and the consequent implications for all Black students in one choice context. Research Design The data for this study was collected as part of a multi-year, multi-method study of Black students in three demographically distinct school districts participating in an inter-district school choice system in the Midwest. Relying primarily on focus group interviews with teachers, we evaluated teachers’ narratives within and across districts to determine the discourse patterns that were germane to and differed across districts. Findings In the same way that Blacks are not often readily imagined as both Black and American, the Black students in the districts under study were constructed by teachers as interlopers—not readily imagined as both Black and full members of the school communities in which they were enrolled. In blurring these boundaries, teachers 1) rationalized their own sense of professional inefficacy in facilitating the academic success of Black students; and 2) normalized perspectives and practices that situate Black students and their families as deficient. Conclusion/Recommendations School choice was not articulated in these districts via professional perspectives and practices that increased Black educational opportunity, but was reconfigured as a trope that rationalized Black exclusion and underperformance. Unless teachers are supported in constructing radically different narratives than those reported herein, they are unlikely to cultivate personal practical knowledge that facilitates Black educational access and opportunity in schools of choice or elsewhere.