Anxiety and burnout in the health care work environment

Abstract

Burnout is linked to many problems of employees and to organizational effectiveness. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, this study considered the effects of the trait (a personality characteristic), and the state (a response to stressful stimuli) of anxiety to perceived burnout. Analysis showed that scores on both trait and state anxiety were significantly related to scores on burnout. Moderators, including characteristics of the work environment, as measured by selected subscales of the Work Environment Scale were evaluated for their influence on the anxiety-burnout linkage. Peer and supervisory support, age, and prior knowledge of work-day situations moderated anxiety about burnout. Other work environment factors functioned as independent predictors of burnout.