Workplace Stress and Job Burnout
Abstract
In recent years, stress has become a major problem in the work place. Burnout is a psychological response to work stress that is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced feelings of personal accomplishment. In this paper, I have reviewed the burnout literature from 2007 to present, identifying important trends that have characterized the meaning of burnout and stressors in the workplace. I have focused my attention on theoretical models that explain the meaning of burnout, burnout versus our health, who gets burned out and why, and stress differences between men and women.
What is burnout? In the recent years, organizations have paid extra attention to employee stress and its effect on job performance. Burnout, an outcome of stress is known to cause individual, family and organizational problems and health conditions such as insomnia and hypertension. The question many ask is where does it originate and how supported are the employees by the organization? Researchers have attempted to link stress and burnout and its effect on job performance. The research study found many contributing factors such as job satisfaction, work and family demands, work environment, and culture. Job burnout has been conceptualized in many different ways; however the most cited definition is “a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of others, and a feeling of reduced personal accomplishment” (Watson, Goh, &ump; Sawang, 2011, p. 108). It is a condition that is on the rise among workers today. Burnout is a type of stress response most commonly displayed by individuals who have intense contact and involvement with others during the course of their normal workday. Examples of emotional exhaustion includes; feeling drained by work, fatigue in the morning, frustrated, and do not want to work with others. Depersonalization is when a person has become emotionally hardened by their job, treat others like objects, do not care what
In recent years, stress has become a major problem in the work place. Burnout is a psychological response to work stress that is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced feelings of personal accomplishment. In this paper, I have reviewed the burnout literature from 2007 to present, identifying important trends that have characterized the meaning of burnout and stressors in the workplace. I have focused my attention on theoretical models that explain the meaning of burnout, burnout versus our health, who gets burned out and why, and stress differences between men and women.
What is burnout? In the recent years, organizations have paid extra attention to employee stress and its effect on job performance. Burnout, an outcome of stress is known to cause individual, family and organizational problems and health conditions such as insomnia and hypertension. The question many ask is where does it originate and how supported are the employees by the organization? Researchers have attempted to link stress and burnout and its effect on job performance. The research study found many contributing factors such as job satisfaction, work and family demands, work environment, and culture. Job burnout has been conceptualized in many different ways; however the most cited definition is “a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of others, and a feeling of reduced personal accomplishment” (Watson, Goh, &ump; Sawang, 2011, p. 108). It is a condition that is on the rise among workers today. Burnout is a type of stress response most commonly displayed by individuals who have intense contact and involvement with others during the course of their normal workday. Examples of emotional exhaustion includes; feeling drained by work, fatigue in the morning, frustrated, and do not want to work with others. Depersonalization is when a person has become emotionally hardened by their job, treat others like objects, do not care what