From burnout to engagement: The role of individual and job factors in promoting worker health and well-being

The project entails a collaboration with professor Ron Burke at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Several articles will be completed dealing with job burnout and work engagement. On the one hand, we will investigate the role of personali ty variables and work related factors in relation to burnout. Achievement motivation and impatience are part of the Type A behavior pattern which has been associated with distress and health deterioration. However it is less well known how this personalit y variable may affect the work situation and the development of burnout. The second focus is on the relationship between demands and resources at work, and if it is possible to use work resources, such as support from coworkers and superiors, autonomy an d career opportunities, to reduce burnout and stimulate work engagement, a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication and absorption. Work engagement is closely related to intrinsic motivation. In addition , the project will assess the effects of coping strategies on burnout and health complaints, especially problem focused coping versus emotion focused coping. And finally the study will assess the role of total work load, including household duties and chi ld care in relation to health and well-being at work. The results of these investigations will extend previous research on burnout and engagment. In addition to providing further tests of theoretical models of burnout and engagement, it will have importa nt practical implications in terms of promoting worker health and well-being and helping employers create healthy work environments.