Role of psychological empowerment in the reduction of burnout in Canadian healthcare workers

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the role of psychological empowerment as a protective factor for burnout among workers exposed to work-related stressors (e.g. daily hassles, overload, job changes). A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted, with a convenience sample of 401 healthcare workers. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to test main and moderating effects of empowerment cognitions. Results revealed partial support for the hypotheses. Only the job meaningfulness cognition exerts a beneficent main effect on all burnout symptoms beyond the effect of stressors. Some moderating effects differing according to burnout dimensions were also found. Most interestingly, high levels of empowerment cognitions accentuate the effect of change-related resources in the reduction of emotional exhaustion. Because psychological empowerment has beneficial effects, organizations could rely on different strategies to enhance it.

Relationships among structural empowerment, psychological empowerment, intent to stay and burnout in nursing field in mainland China—based on a cross‐sectional questionnaire research

“…Boudrias et al . 's study indicated that job meaningfulness could have influence on all burnout symptoms, and staffs who perceive to be psychologically empowered could benefit more from decreasing risks of emotional exhaustion. Providing work empowerment might help reduce burnout and improve intent to stay of staff nurses…”

The Mediating Effects of Burnout on the Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Occupational Stress among Community Healthcare Workers in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Several studies have shown that healthcare workers, particularly nurses, have a greater risk than that of other professionals of developing emotional distress from job stress, such as burnout, anxiety and depression [46]. Rapid economic development, medical reform, aging populations, a shortage of qualified personnel and the growing burden of chronic diseases increase the job demands on community healthcare workers who are expected to meet their patients' basic health needs through effective, economic, comprehensive and continuous services [1], [47], [48]. Thus, in addition to their default challenges, healthcare providers have to balance the expectations of funding agencies, administrators and patients.…”

“…Additionally, healthcare professionals should be provided with coping strategies. Another study in Canada showed that psychological empowerment in healthcare workers can reduce the effects of stressors on burnout [47].…”

The impact of psychological empowerment and organisational commitment on Chinese nurses’ job satisfaction

“…It has been reported that structural empowerment and organisational commitment were positively correlated with nurse's job satisfaction (Liu, Guo, Zhang, & Jin, 2011). However, researchers tend to focus on psychological empowerment because it is considered as an important intrinsic motivation whereas structural empowerment provides nurses with extrinsic motivation (Boudrias, Morin, & Brodeur, 2012;Guo et al, 2012;He & Hou, 2010;Sparks, 2011;Wagner et al, 2010;Zhang & Liu, 2013). Existing literature has shown that the level of psychological empowerment of nurses is low, leading to a lower level of nurse job satisfaction, job burnout and intention to leave (Boudrias et al, 2012;Guo et al, 2012;He & Hou, 2010;Zhang & Liu, 2013).…”