Effort-Reward Imbalance, Mental Health and Burnout in Occupational Groups That Face Mental Stress
Katharina Diekmann, Irina Böckelmann, Håvard R. Karlsen, Anke Lux, Beatrice Thielmann
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between mental health, effort-reward imbalance, intrinsic overcommitment and burnout in occupational groups that face mental stress. METHODS: Three hundred forty-six people aged 43.8 ± 9.9 years in professions characterized by mental strain (medical assistants, nurses, bank employees, teachers) were surveyed. The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, overcommitment, General Health Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used. RESULTS: There were occupational group-specific differences. Nurses showed the highest effort-reward imbalance, the highest impaired mental health and risk of burnout. The intrinsic overcommitment was highest among teachers. Gender and work experience had no influence, but there were some differences in age. CONCLUSIONS: The occupational groups we studied experience stress differently. They would benefit from the establishment of general conditions to improve the management of stress in the workplace. The focus should be on improving mental health.