Phases of Progressive Burnout and Their Work Site Covariants: Critical Issues in OD Research and Praxis

Abstract

The term "burnout" represents a significant perspective on how people respond to their work, but the attention paid to this phenomenon has largely been clinical and often anecdotal. In this article, the authors seek to expand the analysis of burnout in ways that permit comparative analysis, especially in large populations. This study specifically addresses three questions. First, does a paper-and-pencil instrument isolate domains of burnout that are relatively consistent between people-intensive work and the broader range of activities found in a commercial enterprise? Second, can we develop phases of progressive burnout? Third, can we test the efficacy of the burnout phases by searching for regularities in a panel of 22 variables commonly thought to tap the important facets of the work site? The author's analysis shows that we can answer these three central questions affirmatively, though occasionally with complex and potentially significant qualifications. The results of the analysis provide further evidence of the usefulness of a convenient instrument for measuring burnout and also suggest that behavioral scientists will find valuable a phase model that distinguishes regular and robust covariation by using a panel of variables thought to tap the important aspects of organizational life.

Developmental processes in school burnout: A comparison of major developmental models

“…Golembiewski (1989) provides one such model which has been found to predict important aspects of well-being and achievement (Golembiewski, 1989;Schaufeli & Enzmann, 1998). This model suggests that burnout develops in phases, resulting in eight distinct clusters representing progressively more maladaptive states (Golembiewski, 1989;Golembiewski, Boudreau, Goto, & Murai, 1993;Golembiewski, Munzenrider, & Carter, 1983). This phasing model suggests that cynicism develops first and is followed by feelings of inadequacy with emotional exhaustion emerging in more virulent stages of burnout (Golembiewski, 1989;Taris, Le Blanc, Schaufeli, & Schreurs, 2005).…”

The Oswald Clergy Burnout Scale: Reliability, Factor Structure and Preliminary Application Among Australian Clergy

“…In recent years, the concept of burnout has also been applied to the study of workrelated stress in other occupational groups. Various derivative scales have been devised by adapting the wording of individual items to be more appropriate to specific groups, for example, aircraft maintenance technicians (Leiter & Robichaud, 1997), athletes (Readeke & Smith, 2001) private sector computing staff (Golembiewski, Munzenrider, & Carter, 1983;Evans & Fisher, 1993), university teaching staff (Pretorius,1994) and students (Schaufeli, Martinez, Pinto, Salanova, & Bakker, 2002).…”

Ante el burnout : cuidados a los equipos de salud mental

“…Mansilla (2003) retoma para el burnout la idea de un orden secuencial en el que aparecen y se desarrollan los síntomas que lo integran (agotamiento emocional, despersonalización y baja realización personal en el trabajo). De hecho, Golembiewski, Munzenrider y Carter (1983) interpretaron que el síntoma inicial es el desarrollo de actitudes de despersonalización, como mecanismo disfuncional de afrontamiento del estrés, y posteriormente los sujetos experimentaban baja realización personal en el trabajo y a más largo plazo agotamiento emocional.…”