Understanding the Relationship between Situational Strength and Burnout: A Multi-Sample Analysis

Abstract

Many studies have examined the effect of situational strength (clarity, consistency, constraints, and consequences) on organisational behaviour, but little has been investigated about its health effects. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between situational strength and burnout. Specifically, we examined whether situational strength characteristics may be associated with burnout, whether these characteristics are risk (or protective) factors for burnout, and whether a strong situation is related to higher levels of burnout. Examining three samples from different occupations, it was found that clarity and consistency are negatively associated with burnout, being protective factors, while constraints are positively associated with burnout, being risk factors. These results are consistent across the samples. In addition to the direct effects, interaction effects between clarity and consistency in the office employee’s sample (two-way interaction), between constraints and consequences in the samples of office employees and teachers (two-way interaction), and among clarity, consistency, and constraints in the salespeople’s sample (three-way interaction) were also significant, explaining from 20% to 33% of the variance of burnout. We concluded that situational strength is associated not only with behaviour but also with health. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Resident Burnout, Wellness, Professional Development, and Engagement Before and After New Training Schedule Implementation

“…First, although we did not directly measure patient-care hours or total hours worked, there was a redistribution of total patient-care hours favoring outpatient care and more structured professional time dedicated to scholarly activity and other aspects of professional development. Although reductions in total work hours have not been previously demonstrated to improve burnout, our schedule structure provided more opportunity for other processes previously determined to prevent burnout, including reduced overall clinical constraints . Second, the intervention schedule allowed for more autonomy in selection of activities outside of clinical time, facilitating more longitudinal and personal connections to be made, which has been shown to reduce burnout .…”

“…Although reductions in total work hours have not been previously demonstrated to improve burnout, 32 our schedule structure provided more opportunity for other processes previously determined to prevent burnout, including reduced overall clinical constraints. 33 Second, the intervention schedule allowed for more autonomy in selection of activities outside of clinical time, facilitating more longitudinal and personal connections to be made, which has been shown to reduce burnout. 28 Further, the structure increased the interval between rotations with higher rates of moral distress.…”

Measuring the Influence of Environment on Behaviour: A Multimethod Multisample Validation of the Situational Strength at Work (SSW) Scale in Spanish-Speaking Samples

“…Empirically, the dimensions that have been most frequently used in situational strength studies are constraints, consequences, and clarity (Alaybek et al, 2017;Bowling et al, 2015;Dalal et al, 2020;García-Arroyo et al, 2021;Meyer et al 2009). For example, Meyer et al (2009) used constraints and consequences to analyse the moderating effect of situational strength on the relationship between conscientiousness and performance, finding that both constraints and consequences significantly moderated the conscientiousness-performance relationship being stronger in occupations low in constraints and consequences than in occupations high in constraints and consequences.…”

“…However, this moderation role of situational strength may vary when actors such as counterproductive behaviours are included in the model. Finally, García-Arroyo et al (2021) analysed the relationship between situational strength and burnout, concluding that situational strength is not only related to behaviour but also to occupational health. Validation of a Scale of Situational Strength at Work…”

Job Demands, Resources and Burnout Among Polish Nurses During the Late Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Emotional Labor

“…These include faulty equipment, incomplete or poor information flow, as well as interruptions by others ( 30 ). Garcia-Arroyo et al ( 31 ) demonstrated that organizational constraints considered from the JD-R perspective should be regarded as demands that can limit autonomy, job control, and decision-making capacity, generating stress, and burnout. Similarly, using JD-R framework, Baka ( 32 ) showed that organizational constraints were associated with job burnout and depression among Polish teachers.…”