Issues in stress and burnout for women in management and non-management positions

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to examine from an ecological perspective how the factors of work environment, stress and psychological sense of community impacted on the experience of burnout for women in management and non-management positions within a large organization. The results indicated that the experience of burnout is different depending on the level of the organization in that non-management personnel experienced the highest burnout. Environmental variables were found to significantly contribute to the experience of burnout and their specific impact also varied with the respondents place in the organizational hierarchy. Psychological sense of community was found to be significantly and negatively related to burnout. Implications for current burnout conceptualization, women in the work force, the organization and pertinent treatment issues via primary and secondary prevention are discussed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)