Thesis

5.6. WHICH FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO HIGHER BURNOUT?
Hypothesis 6: Across the two samples it was looked at which factors contributed to higher
burnout. Thus, it was investigated whether lower levels of work stress, higher life satisfaction,
higher psychological immunity, or higher levels of social support would serve as the most
protective factors against burnout, across the two samples.
In the present study it was shown that burnout was directly influenced by nationality, by
work stress, and by psychological immunity. More precisely, Swedish nationality and
psychological immunity were both shown to serve as protective factors against burnout in this
study. Therefore, when it comes to the sixth hypothesis and which variable(s) would serve as
the most protective factor against burnout, across the two samples, it was shown that higher
psychological immunity was the best protective factor against burnout. After that it was
Swedish nationality. Low levels of work-related stress, higher life satisfaction and higher
social support did not directly serve as a protective factor against burnout. Previous research
done in the field of burnout and which factors are affecting it, have shown a variety of factors
affecting burnout. Garrosa et al. (2006) for example showed that burnout could be explained
by work stressors. Other researchers have also found emotional exhaustion to be related to
work stress factors (see for example Cherniss, 1980; Lindblom et al., 2006; Maslach &
Jackson, 1981; Posig & Kickul, 2003). In the present study work stress did have an influence
on burnout but lower levels of it did not serve as a protective factor against burnout. Thus, the
present study can confirm previous research findings. Garrosa et al. (2006) concluded that
personality could significantly predict burnout in their study. In the present study the
personality factor was represented by the psychological immunity, which was shown to have
an effect on burnout. More precisely it was shown that it was higher levels of psychological
immunity which served as the best protective factor against burnout. It is interesting that
personality was shown to have the most significant effect on burnout in this study and that
previous research also has found personality to be of such importance. The fact, however, that
psychological immunity has not received much attention in the research of burnout could
certainly be encouraged to receive more attention after the present study’s result. Schmitz et
al. (2000) reported on the effects of locus of control on burnout. The researchers suggested
that locus of control would predict burnout. It was found in their study that increasing burnout
scores were associated with decreased locus of control in this sample of nurses. Thus, Schmitz
et al. (op. cit.) showed that personality and burnout could also be associated with each other