The predictive value of individual factors, work-related factors, and work-home interaction on burnout in female and male physicians: a longitudinal study

• Published in: Stress and health 2011-02, Vol.27 (1), p.73-87
• Main Authors: Langballe, Ellen Melbye, Innstrand, Siw Tone, Aasland, Olaf Gjerløw, Falkum, Erik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Burnout; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender; Health staff related problems. Vocational training; individual factors; Intervention; Medical sciences; Occupational psychology; physician burnout; Physicians; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Regression analysis; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Studies; Work condition. Job performance. Stress; work-home interaction; work-related factors
• ISSN: 1532-3005; 1532-2998; 1532-2998
• DOI: 10.1002/smi.1321

The purpose of this study was to examine physician burnout in association with individual factors, work characteristics and work–home interaction (job performance‐based self‐esteem, goal orientation, value congruency, workload, autonomy, work–home conflict and work–home facilitation). This two‐wave panel study includes a sample of Norwegian physicians collected in 2003 (N = 683) and 2005 (N = 523). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the assumed effects in male and female physicians separately. The results imply that many of the assumed predictors play significant parts in physician burnout. A noticeable finding was that the pattern and strength of significant effects differed within the separate analyses of men and women. Work–home conflict was a particularly strong burnout predictor in female physicians whereas workload was the strongest burnout predictor in male physicians. The findings may have implications when planning future interventions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.