How Changes in Psychosocial Job Characteristics Impact Burnout in Nurses: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

Aims: The main aim of this longitudinal study was to test the Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) model and to analyze whether changes in psychosocial job characteristics are related to (changes in) burnout.Background: Previous studies on the effects of JDCS variables on burnout dimensions have indicated that the iso-strain hypothesis (i.e., high job demands, low control, and low support additively predict high stress reactions) and the buffer hypotheses (i.e., high job control and/or social support is expected to moderate the negative impact of high demands on stress reactions) have hardly been examined concurrently in a longitudinal design; and that the effects of changes of psychosocial job variables on burnout dimensions have hardly been analyzed.Design: This two wave study was carried out over a period of 14 months in a sample of 217 Italian nurses.Method: Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the cross lagged main and interactive effects of JDCS variables, and to analyse the across-time effects of changes in JDCS dimensions on burnout variables.Results: The Time 1 job characteristics explained 2–8% of the variance in the Time 2 burnout dimensions, but no support for the additive, or the buffer hypothesis of the JDCS model was found. Changes in job characteristics explained an additional 3–20% of variance in the Time 2 burnout dimensions. Specifically, high levels of emotional exhaustion at Time 2 were explained by high levels of social support at Time 1, and unfavorable changes in demands, control, and support over time; high depersonalization at Time 2 was explained by high social support at time 1 and by an increase in demands over time; and high personal accomplishment at Time 2 was predicted by high demands, high control, interactive effect demands × control × social support, at Time 1, and by a decrease in demands over time. No reversed effects of burnout on work characteristics have been found.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the work environment is subject to changes: the majority of employees experienced considerable changes in all job conditions over time. These changes impacted employee burnout. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.

Estresse Ocupacional E Fatores Associados Entre Enfermeiros De Hospitais Públicos

“…Entre os enfermeiros deste estudo, constatou-se predominantemente o trabalho passivo, seguido daquele de alta exigência, dados que se assemelham aos de outras investigações realizadas no Brasil e exterior (11,16) . Infere-se que tais condições podem levar os trabalhadores à redução gradual na capacidade de solucionar problemas rotineiros em seu ambiente laboral, além de vivenciar níveis altos de sofrimento e de insatisfação devido à monotonia do processo de trabalho, que desapropria o trabalhador do seu know-how (22) , tornando-o incapaz de enfrentar os desafios intelectuais que podem surgir no cotidiano do trabalho em enfermagem.…”

“…Entre as principais repercussões associadas ao estresse ocupacional, têm-se o absenteísmo, insatisfação laboral, acidentes de trabalho, diminuição da qualidade de vida, síndrome de burnout, problemas cardiovasculares, distúrbios psíquicos menores, e também ocorre um declínio do desempenho do trabalhador, que impacta a qualidade do cuidado (9)(10)(11)(12)(13) .…”

Direct and Indirect Effects of Belief in a Just World and Supervisor Support on Burnout via Bullying

“…First, they share common causes such as job characteristics (e.g., high demands and a low amount of resources), lack of social support, abusive management, bad work climate, and unfairness. In particular, the absence of social support can increase bullying [8] and burnout [9]. Second, bullying is linked to burnout because repeated stressful conflicts and situations [10] or a power imbalance between the parties [11], which are the well-known characteristics of bullying, will necessarily lead to exhaustion.…”

“…Negative relationships with co-workers and supervisors have been shown to aggravate burnout. Social support appears to be associated with every dimension of burnout [9]. …”

“…Perceived social support is related to a low level of burnout among teachers [21] and nurses [9,31], and their workplace bullying and emotional exhaustion can be reduced through the social support they receive from people around them [32]. Lack of support from one’s supervisor is a source of professional stress, and to a large extent, engenders the risk of professional exhaustion [33].…”