LE3 .A278 2018

2018

Hayes, Joseph

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

Despite the extensive body of research in the area of burnout, many modern-day workplaces continue to place excessive stressors on workers without providing the necessary resources to combat them. Regardless, there appears to be individuals who can thrive in such stressful workplace settings, whereas others cannot. With the primary goal of understanding burnout as a withdrawal response, and a secondary goal of providing insight into these individuals that appear to be more resilient than others, the present study applies social psychological processes to the burnout literature. In this capacity, two separate studies were created and analyzed. In both studies an incivility (vs. civility) was modelled as a predictor of burnout and depression through the serial path of reactive approach motivation. Study 1 addressed a university student sample, whereas, Study 2 generalized the results found in Study 1 to more traditional workplace roles and supervisor-subordinate relationships. Using conditional process modelling, a statistical analysis technique that tests various mediation and moderation models, an initial and revised hypothesis were tested and replicated. Results suggest that engaging in approach-oriented resolutions functions to buffer against the development of burnout and depression. In other words, reactively engaging towards goals (central or peripheral) serves to prevent feelings of depression associated with withdrawal responses to organizational stressors.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2697