Thesis

as condition made up of autonomous dimensions which all have a different association with
previous circumstances and consequences. For example, the emotional exhaustion dimension
from this point of view is an instant consequence of the work demands but depersonalization
and reduced personal accomplishment are foremost consequences of a lack of work resources
(see for example Bakker, Demerouti, Taris, Schaufeli & Schreurs, 2003; Demerouti, Bakker,
Nachreiner & Schaufeli, 2001; Lee & Ashforth, 1996). Thus, nurses might experience merely
one of the burnout dimensions depending on what the nurse’s current work circumstances are.
Secondly, Maslach et al. (1996) look upon burnout as a theory on a continuum and not as a
dichotomous theory. As such, if a nurse has a high level of burnout she is experiencing high
emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. On the other
hand if she has a low level of burnout she is experiencing low emotional exhaustion and
depersonalization, and high personal accomplishment. Connected to this, Maslach et al. (op.
cit.) are describing a nurse with a moderate level of burnout as having average scores on all
the three dimensions of the burnout. However, according to Demerouti et al. (2005) many
cases of the burnout dimensions are not specified. For example, how should a researcher
interpret a nurse who scores high on emotional exhaustion but low on depersonalization and
personal accomplishment? It is important to clarify burnout when doing a research as to
explain that burnout exists when emotional exhaustion and depersonalization is high, and
when personal accomplishment is low.
Thirdly, Cordes & Dougherty (1993), Maslach et al. (1996), and Wright & Cropanzano (1998)
have suggested that researchers should look upon burnout as an on-going reduction of energy
where nurses experiencing emotional exhaustion use the strategy of depersonalization to
preserve their own resources. Maslach (1993) explained depersonalization as a dysfunctional
coping mechanism which for the nurse worsens the relationship with her patients and slowly
lessens her sense of personal accomplishment. Muraven, Tice & Baumeister (1998)
speculated that burnout is resulting in weakening of the ego, which can be seen in a person’s
incapability to self-regulate by using her intelligence. Thus, a nurse’s incapability to self-
regulate may give an explanation to why nurses choose to depersonalize when they are
emotionally exhausted. Meyerson (1994) has considered burnout to occur differently by
nurses depending on how the organization or the workplace of the nurse looks like. Thus, with
this theory it is suggested that burnout can be self-regulated by the nurse experiencing it
through the means of for example coping.