Tested 9 hypotheses about the burnout phenomenon, defined as a 3-component syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and feelings of low personal accomplishment. Burnout was hypothesized to be associated with unmet employee expectations and job conditions. Hypothesized consequences of burnout included (a) preferred job type, (b) subsequent thoughts about leaving, (c) job-search behaviors, (d) training received, (e) intentions to leave, and (f) voluntary leaving. Elementary and secondary school teachers (median age 36 yrs) responded to 2 questionnaires mailed to their homes; 1 yr elapsed between completion of the 2 questionnaires. Regression analyses of time-lagged data (N = 248) supported many of the hypothesized correlates of employee burnout. It is suggested that improved conceptualizations about the burnout phenomenon are needed.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.71.4.630
