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Abstract

Studies on occupational burnout among health workers, especially in Nigeria have been at best isolated. No adequate inter-occupational comparative study on burnout among health workers, police personnel, and teachers has been conducted. This study, therefore, investigated the extent to which health workers were different from police personnel, and teachers in the manifestations of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment, and overall occupational burnout. Participants were 455 employees (203 males; 252 females) sampled from 3 service occupations (police = 139; health = 159; teaching = 157), whose ages averaged 35.94 years (SD = 7.93). Health workers reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and overall occupational burnout than either police personnel or teachers. Although health workers reported a higher level of reduced personal accomplishment than police personnel, results indicated that teachers felt as underachieving as health workers. The findings were discussed in terms of the perceived imbalance in the job demands-rewards ratio in the job situations.

Work-Family Interference and Occupational Burnout among Employees in Service Occupations in Nigeria

“…Ogungbamila, 2013) that higher level of occupational burnout existed among health workers compared with employees in other service occupations (teachers and police personnel). Health workers might have experienced higher emotional exhaustion and overall occupational burnout than bank workers because of the dearth of health workers in Nigeria as a result of migration (Bangdiwala et al, 2010;Chankova et al, 2007).…”

“…Due to the busy schedule of employees working in banks and hospitals in Nigeria (Ogungbamila, 2013), respondents were given the liberty to complete the questionnaire during break or at home. A total of 420 questionnaires were distributed to employees in the selected banks (210 questionnaires) and hospitals (210 questionnaires) who were willing to participate in the study.…”

“…Noor, 2004;Senecal et al, 2001) on the relationship between negative work-family interference and occupational burnout usually explored only one dimension of occupational burnout. Studies have shown environmental and occupational differences in the manifestations of the dimensions of occupational burnout (Bakker, Demerouti & Euwema, 2005;Ogungbamila, 2013). It is, therefore, important to deepen the literature on how the directions of work-family interference connect with the dimensions occupational burnout; which this study aimed to achieve.…”

“…In a study comparing three service occupations in Nigeria, Ogungbamila (2013) found that health workers reported the highest levels of emotional exhaustion, dehumanization, and overall occupational burnout compared with teachers and police personnel. This may be because health care workers in Nigeria face special challenges in assessing, diagnosing, treating, and managing health care needs of patients, families, and communities (Olanipekun, 2009) due to dearth of health workers and inadequate health facilities (Bangdiwala, Fonn, Okoye, & Tollman, 2010).…”

“…Michinov (2005, p. 100) submitted that emotional exhaustion is the core element of occupational burnout and is accompanied by two kinds of negative attitudes: client-directed (dehumanization) and self-directed (reduced sense of personal accomplishment). These client-directed and self-directed negative attitudes may adversely affect the functionality of the employees and the quality of service to the clients in the banking (Sowmya & Panchanatham, 2011), health (Ogungbamila, 2013), and other service sectors of the economy.…”