ABSTRACT
(1) Background: Teaching is a profession in which burnout constitutes a prevalent issue and provides ample opportunity to compare oneself with one's colleagues, i.e., social comparison. The purpose of this research in the Netherlands was to examine responses to social comparison, in relation to burnout, and to individual differences in social comparison orientation (SCO). (2) Methods: Study 1 employed a retrospective measure to assess responses to social comparison. In Study 2, teachers were confronted with a scenario describing either a well or a poorly functioning colleague. (3) Results: Burnout was associated with more negative responses to well and to poorly functioning colleagues, with a less positive response to well-functioning colleagues. This last effect was fully due to the degree to which one identified or contrasted oneself with this colleague. Especially among high-SCO individuals, identification with a well-functioning colleague was accompanied by a positive affect. High-burnout individuals reported more identification with poorly functioning colleagues, and more contrast and less identification with well-functioning colleagues. Responses to well-functioning colleagues were more strongly related to burnout among those high in SCO. (4) Conclusions: An especially negative affect after comparison with well-functioning colleagues is typical for individuals high in burnout, particularly among individuals with a dispositional tendency to compare themselves with others.
Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional , Educational Personnel , Humans , Social Comparison , Netherlands , Retrospective Studies , Burnout, Professional/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The present study examined rival characteristics that may evoke jealousy in the workplace, differences between men and women in this regard, and the relationship between jealousy responses and intrasexual competitiveness and social comparison orientation. Participants were 426 male and female employees. By means of a questionnaire, participants were presented with a jealousy-evoking scenario after which jealousy responses to 24 rival characteristics were assessed. Findings showed that a rival's social communal attributes evoked highest levels of jealousy, and that, compared to men, women reported more jealousy in response to a rival's physical attractiveness. Overall, as individuals had higher scores on intrasexual competitiveness and social comparison orientation, they also experienced more jealousy in response to their rival, regardless of his or her characteristics. These findings suggest that those characteristics that are highly valued in employees may backfire when employees perceive co-workers as rivals.
Subject(s)
Competitive Behavior , Employment/psychology , Interpersonal Relations , Jealousy , Social Perception , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Esta pesquisa estabelece a incidência de burnout em médicos residentes de um hospital público através do MBI (Malasch Burnout Inventory). Burnout é um estado persistente e negativo, relacionado ao trabalho, relatado por indivíduos normais, caracterizado por exaustão, sentimento de reduzida eficácia, diminuição da motivação e atitudes e comportamentos laborais disfuncionais (Schaufeli & Buunk¹). Foi realizada uma investigação em 120 residentes, que desenvolvem suas atividades em um hospital público. Os resultados principais indicam a incidência de burnout em 20,8 por cento da amostra. A manifestação da síndrome foi caracterizada por apresentar 65,0 por cento de classificação alta na dimensão exaustão emocional (EE), 61,7 por cento de classificação alta na dimensão despersonalização (DE) e 30,0 por cento de classificação baixa na dimensão realização profissional (RP). Burnout esteve presente em 78,4 por cento da amostra e ausente em 0,8 por cento da amostra. A maior freqüência de casos de manifestação da síndrome foi observada nas áreas de Ortopedia, seguida das áreas de Clínica Médica, Cirurgia, Pediatria, Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. É preciso criar programas de prevenção do burnout, para evitar que profissionais, que promovem a saúde, adoeçam. É necessário também dar continuidade a esse tipo de pesquisa e desenvolver modelos mais complexos para o entendimento do burnout neste contexto laboral específico.
This study establishes the incidence of burnout in residents of a public hospital using the MBI (Malasch Burnout Inventory). Burnout is a persistent and negative, work-related state of mind affecting "normal" individuals, primarily characterized by exhaustion and distress, a sense of reduced effectiveness, decreased motivation and the development of dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors at work (Schaufelli & Buunk¹). One hundred and twenty residents, developing their activities in a public hospital were investigated. The main results indicate an incidence of in 20.8 percent of burnout in the sample. The presence of the syndrome was characterized by 65.0 percent of high rating in the dimension emotional exhaustion (EE), 61.7 percent of high rating in the dimension depersonalization (cynicism or distant attitude) (DP) and 30.0 percent of low rating in the dimension professional accomplishment (PA). Burnout was present in 78.4 percent and absent in 0.8 percent of the sample. A higher frequency of cases was observed in the specialty Orthopedics, followed by Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics respectively. It is necessary to set some burnout prevention programs in order to avoid that professionals in charge of promoting health get sick. It is also necessary to continue this kind of research for developing more complex models for the understanding of burnout in this specific work context.
