From Exhaustion to Disengagement via Self-Efficacy Change: Findings from Two Longitudinal Studies among Human Services Workers

Abstract

This longitudinal research examined the relationship direction between burnout components (exhaustion and disengagement) within the context of personal resources measured by self-efficacy and social support. In line with the conservation of resources theory we hypothesized that exhaustion may trigger a spiral loss of personal resources where self-efficacy declines and subsequently, social support also declines and in turn predict disengagement. Participants in Study 1 were mental healthcare providers (N = 135) working with U.S. military personnel suffering from trauma. Participants in Study 2 were healthcare providers, social workers, and other human services professionals (N = 193) providing various types of services for civilian trauma survivors in Poland. Baseline and 6-month follow-up measurements included burnout components, burnout self-efficacy and perceived social support. The path analysis showed consistent results for both longitudinal studies; exhaustion measured at Time 1 led to disengagement at Time 2, after controlling for baseline disengagement levels. Across Study 1 and Study 2 these associations were mediated by self-efficacy change: Higher exhaustion led to greater decline in self-efficacy which in turn explained higher disengagement at the follow-up. Social support, however, did not mediate between self-efficacy and disengagement. These mediating effects were invariant across Studies 1 and 2, although the mean levels of burnout and personal resources differed significantly. The results contribute to a discussion on the internal structure of job burnout and a broader understanding of the associations between exhaustion and disengagement that may be explained by the underlying mechanism of change in self-efficacy.

Effects of Internet-Based Self-Efficacy Intervention on Secondary Traumatic Stress and Secondary Posttraumatic Growth among Health and Human Services Professionals Exposed to Indirect Trauma

“…The results of this experimental study are in line with social cognitive theory ( Bandura, 1997 ) and research showing negative correlations between self-efficacy and employees’ mental health indicators, such as job burnout ( Rogala et al, 2015 ) and symptoms of arousal, intrusion or avoidance ( Luszczynska et al, 2009 ), and a positive relationship with SPTG ( Shoji et al, 2014 ). Compared to an abundance of experimental research showing that self-efficacy interventions affect health behaviors through a mediator (e.g., a change in self-efficacy; Luszczynska and Schwarzer, 2015 ; cf.…”

“…Systematic reviews indicated that among trauma survivors, self-efficacy is related to better mental and physical health ( Luszczynska et al, 2009 ). Research conducted among healthcare workers indicated that self-efficacy predicts better mental health outcomes and higher SPTG ( Shoji et al, 2014 ; Rogala et al, 2015 ). Furthermore, SPTG refers to positive changes or enhancements in such areas as personal activism or agency, and personal capabilities ( Cohen and Collens, 2013 ), which may partially overlap with the core aspects of self-efficacy ( Bandura, 1997 ).…”

<p>Burnout as a State: Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Relationship Between Exhaustion and Disengagement in a 10-Day Study</p>

“…Thus, it cannot be unequivocally stated that they were clear consequences of the reciprocal relationship between exhaustion and disengagement and vice versa, which differs from the results of longitudinal studies without separation of trait-like burnout. 40,69 This effect, therefore, seems more complex and needs further research, especially as it may not be the same pattern for the whole week, but rather some periods of the week may be more sensitive to different types of casual dominance and its persistence.…”

“…This, in turn, leads to separation from work objects, work content, and one's work in general. 40 To address this topic, it is necessary to examine how exhaustion and disengagement are interrelated in the perspective of time. However, most studies focus on the relationship between job burnout and work engagement only.…”

“…However, most studies focus on the relationship between job burnout and work engagement only. 41 Only a few studies have focused directly on the components of burnout, 40 but they did not use the daily diary design, which allows researchers to differentiate between stable individual differences in burnout and the dynamics of daily changes. Thus, in this study, we want to investigate how symptoms of exhaustion and disengagement are interrelated day by day by systematically separating the state-like and trait-like components of these variables.…”