The Conceptual Model of Role Stress and Job Burnout in Judges: The Moderating Role of Career Calling

Abstract

Judges are the central actors in the organization and functioning of the judicial system. Concerns about work efficiency, driven by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, led countries to adopt a set of reforms in line with private sector ideals applied to the public field to better manage their financial and human resources. In the last decades, the Portuguese judicial system has undergone a reform based on New Public Management principles by adopting the new Law on the Organization of the Judiciary System (LOSJ), significantly altering judges’ duties, who beyond their traditional role of applying the law, perform the additional role of court-of-law judge-manager. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of role conflict and role ambiguity in occupational burnout among judges and to analyze the influence of calling orientation as a moderating variable, so as to present a conceptual model of role-stress management among the judiciary. Theoretically, this work contributes to the literature on role-stress management through its introduction of calling moderation, as well as to the literature on the positive influence of calling on burnout. In terms of its practical implications, the work contributes to a reconsideration of the current organizational structure of judicial work.

A Study on the Mechanism of Spiritual Leadership on Burnout of Elementary and Secondary School Teachers: The Mediating Role of Career Calling and Emotional Intelligence

“…Spiritual leadership satisfies teachers' spiritual needs and demonstrates selfless care for them, which stimulates the inner motivation of teachers and enables them to have higher confidence and enthusiasm for teaching and working ability, thus enhancing their career calling [78]. When teachers with a high career calling perceive humanistic care and warmth, they feel a strong motivation and engagement in carrying out sustainable development education, a strong identity and responsibility for teaching work, and aspiration to realize self−worth and social value through hard work [79]. Teachers with a high career calling are able to self−internalize the objective successes they have achieved professionally into positive subjective success experiences [80].…”

Why do we still feel drained even in meaningful work?: Unveiling the impact of job insecurity

“…Individuals engaged in living a calling are likely to cultivate a positive self-image, and this positive self-concept serves as an individual resource that facilitates coping with stress [34]. They can amass satisfying job experiences, associated with diverting attention from experiences of burnout, connected to positive emotions, perceived self-e cacy, and a high quality of life perception [35].…”

A Proposed Framework of Research on the Influencing Factors of Burnout - Based on the Perspective of Individual Work Scenarios

“…Distinguishing between role stress and burnout can be challenging due to the complex and multifaceted nature of burnout Pereira et al (2022), While role stress, such as role conflict and role ambiguity, can contribute to the development of burnout, it is important to recognize that burnout is not solely attributed to role stressors.…”