Burnout and job stress in a local government: The moderating effect of sense of coherence

Abstract

The objective of this research was to establish the relationship between burnout and job stress, and to determine whether sense of coherence moderates the effects of job stress on burnout of employees in a local government. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample consisted of 270 employees of a local government. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, Job Stress Indicator and Orientation to Life Questionnaire were administered. Canonical analysis showed that a weak sense of coherence combined with stress because of job demands and a lack of resources were associated with all three components of burnout. Structural equation modelling showed that sense of coherence moderated the effect of job stress on exhaustion. Cynicism mediated the effect of exhaustion on professional efficacy.<p><strong>Opsomming</strong> <br>Die doelstelling van hierdie navorsing was om die verwantskap tussen psigiese uitbranding en werkstres te bepaal en om te bepaal of koherensiesin die effek van werkstres op uitbranding by werknemers binne ’n plaaslike owerheid modereer. ’n Eenmalige dwarssnee opname-ontwerp is gebruik. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 270 werknemers van ’n plaaslike owerheid. Die Maslach Uitbrandingsvraelys, die Werkstres-Indikator en die Lewensoriëntasievraelys is afgeneem. Kanoniese analise het getoon dat ’n swak koherensiesin, asook stres a.g.v. hoë werkseise en ’n gebrek aan organisasie- ondersteuning geassosieer was met al drie komponente van uitbranding. Strukturele vergelykingsmodellering het aangetoon dat koherensiesin die effek van werkstres op uitbranding modereer. Sinisme het die effek van uitputting op professionele doeltreffendheid gemedieer.</p&gt

Work stress, -Burnout and Organizational Politics: Perceptions and Experience of Senior Managers in the South African Government Sector

“…In line with this a study on job stress and burnout in a local government [12] it was indicated, with regard to job stress, that career/work requirements and a lack of organizational support upholds the findings of previous research [16] with regard to stressors in the organizational environment. Item scores on the Work Stress Indicator survey indicated that staff had to perform tasks that are not in the job description, and the execution of other employees' tasks was the most extreme stressors associated with occupational requirements [12]. It seems further that stress due to a lack of organizational support can be attributed to inadequate salaries, lack of opportunities for advancement, weak motivated workforce and lastly, employees who do not do their work.…”

“…Work requirements and a lack of organizational support is another factor that influence stress and burnout [12]. These authors undertook a study, consisting of 270 employees of a local authority, to examine the relationship between job stress and burnout, as well as to determine whether sense of coherence-effect mediate job stress on burnout.…”

“…The overview of literature on stress and burnout indicates that only three studies [7,12,13] investigate stress and burnout in the public sector (national, provincial and local government). Again, this is an indication of the lack of work stress and burnout studies in this area.…”

“…Several studies were undertaken by Schaufeli and Bakker [15]; Rothman, et al [12]; and Maslach, et al [14] in respect of work burnout and various other psychological and work outcomes using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) [10,14].…”

Job insecurity, burnout and work engagement: The impact of positive and negative affectivity

“…Burnout is a particular, multidimensional and chronic stress reaction that goes beyond the experience of mere exhaustion, and is seen as the final step in a progression of unsuccessful attempts to cope with a variety of negative stress conditions (Rothmann, Jackson & Kruger, 2003). Maslach et al (2001, p. 399) define burnout as a "psychological syndrome in response to chronic interpersonal stressors on the job".…”