Burnout: trends, international differences, determinants and effects
Burnout: trends, international differences, determinants and effects
The aim of this article is to describe the trends in burnout, the international differences, the determinants, the risk groups as well as the relation of burnout with absenteeism and work disability. This is done with large and representative national and international data bases. The Netherlands data are provided by Statistics Netherlands, the national social security organization UWV and the research organization TNO. The international data are from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in Dublin.Results show that the percentage of burnout complaints by Netherlands employees increased from 11 to 13% in the period 2007-2009. In the next period, 2009-2012, the percentage stayed at the same level. In the years 1997-2004 the percentage varied between 8 and 10%.Within the European context Netherlands employees are among those with the lowest levels of fatigue. This possibly has to do with the relatively short working week in the Netherlands. Teachers on all levels are amongst the groups with the highest burnout risks in the Netherlands.Longitudinal analyses on the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey 2007-2009 show that the most important determinants of burnout risk are: emotional work strain, work pressure, long working hours, physical work strain, work insecurity, lack of creative work and learning opportunities, and lack of leader support. In addition, single employees, migrants, and employees working relatively often at home are among those with a burnout risk. Sex- and age differences in burnout disappear when work characteristics are kept under control.Finally, it is shown that high scores on the burnout scale are related to high levels of absenteeism. Longterm disabled workers because of a burnout account for 4 to 5% of all disabled for work. Hence, it is a relatively small category.
Burnout: trends, internationale verschillen, determinanten en effecten
