Passion in the pit: the effects of harmonious and obsessive passion on nurse burnout

Abstract

PurposeAnecdotal and survey reports indicate that nurses are suffering increased stress and burnout due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study investigated two forms of passion, harmonious and obsessive passion, as resources that may indirectly predict two forms of burnout, disengagement and exhaustion, through the mediator of job stress.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested their hypotheses in a mediation model using a sample of nurses surveyed at three timepoints during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsAs hypothesized, harmonious passion indirectly decreased disengagement and exhaustion by decreasing job stress. Contrary to authors’ hypotheses, obsessive passion also indirectly decreased (rather than increased, as hypothesized) both disengagement and exhaustion by decreasing job stress. Harmonious, but not obsessive, passion, was significantly negatively directly related to disengagement and exhaustion.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have impacted nurses’ work environments and their willingness to respond.Originality/valueThis study extends conservation of resources theory to conceptualize harmonious and obsessive passion as resources with differing outcomes based on their contrasting identity internalization, per the Dualistic Model of Passion. This study also operationalizes burnout more comprehensively by including cognitive and physical exhaustion along with emotional exhaustion, as well as disengagement. By collecting responses at three timepoints, this study provides a more robust test of causality than previous work examining passion and burnout.

Linking Passion for Work and Emotional Exhaustion in Indonesian Firefighters: The Role of Work–Family Conflict

“…Prior studies have investigated the causes of emotional exhaustion, such as excessive job demands, a lack of social support, interpersonal conflict, etc. However, Landay et al [ 3 ] argued that a strong inclination toward work that people love, which makes them invest more time and energy in one activity, becomes the potential cause of emotional exhaustion. This strong inclination toward work is called a passion for work.…”

“…In recent years, passion for work has gained considerable academic and managerial attention [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]. A decade ago, the dualistic model of passion (DMP) proposed that there are two types of passion: harmonious and obsessive passion [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…In their study limitations, Landay et al [ 3 ] advised that first responders who are likely to experience greater levels of passion, such as firefighters, would be excellent for further research on how passion influences burnout. These employment positions and obligations are among the most dangerous and physically and mentally taxing experienced by any workforce [ 12 ].…”

“…HP may conform to the characterizations of autonomous motivation and has been associated with several positive job consequences, including well-being [ 48 ], as well as being negatively linked with burnout [ 48 , 49 ] and EE [ 10 , 19 , 21 ]. In the case of HP, as it is a resource that the individual actively controls, it is less likely to be lost and might even halt the loss of other resources [ 3 , 20 ]. Therefore, HP should decrease stress and, as a result, burnout in the form of exhaustion.…”

Guest editorial: Contemporary managerial issues in the nursing sector

“…Many of the articles in the special issue specifically deal with the variety of stresses faced by those in the nursing profession. For example, Landay et al (2022) investigate the subject of burnout in nurses by focusing specifically on how harmonious and obsessive passion for their work might mitigate or exacerbate feelings of burnout. Interestingly, they found that both forms of passion showed evidence of providing protective factors against stress and burnout.…”