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Burnout in nurses – the relationship between social capital in hospitals and emotional exhaustion

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  • Christoph Kowalski
  • Oliver Ommen
  • Elke Driller
  • Nicole Ernstmann
  • Markus A Wirtz
  • Thorsten Köhler
  • Holger Pfaff

Abstract

Aims. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between a hospital’s social capital, individual decision latitude, workload and emotional exhaustion in nurses, controlling for age, sex, years of professional experience and job tenure. Background. In western countries between 15–45% of nurses working in hospitals suffer from burnout, characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and decreased personal performance. The prevention of burnout constitutes a great challenge to those responsible for the health care system, not least because burnout may cause increasing turnover rates in nurses and lead to medical mistakes. Design. Survey. Method. A questionnaire was mailed to 1325 nurses working at four hospitals in east and west Germany in 2002. Nine hundred and fifty nine nurses responded (response rate: 72·4%). Results. Logistic regression identified three significant predictors of emotional exhaustion in nurses: workload (OR: 4·523, CI: 3·230–6·333) was positively associated with emotional exhaustion. Decision latitude (OR: 0·376, CI: 0·254–0·557) and social capital in the hospitals (OR: 0·549, CI: 0·403–0·746) were negatively associated with emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion was not affected by age, sex, years of professional experience and job tenure. Nagelkerke′s Pseudo R2 was 0·225. Conclusions. The findings underline the importance of social capital and organisational development in hospital management. Relevance to clinical practice. Efforts to create a good working atmosphere with readiness to provide mutual support and the pursuit of joint values in a hospital, the reduction of workload and increased decision latitude may prevent the development of emotional exhaustion in nurses.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Kowalski & Oliver Ommen & Elke Driller & Nicole Ernstmann & Markus A Wirtz & Thorsten Köhler & Holger Pfaff, 2010. "Burnout in nurses – the relationship between social capital in hospitals and emotional exhaustion," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(11‐12), pages 1654-1663, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:19:y:2010:i:11-12:p:1654-1663
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02989.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fabio Sabatini, 2008. "Does social capital improve labour productivity in Small and Medium Enterprises?," International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 9(5), pages 454-480.
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    1. Keh Kiong Ong & Kit Cheng Ting & Yeow Leng Chow, 2018. "The trajectory of experience of critical care nurses in providing end‐of‐life care: A qualitative descriptive study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1-2), pages 257-268, January.
    2. repec:ehu:cuader:49120 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Boyas, Javier F. & Wind, Leslie H. & Ruiz, Erika, 2013. "Organizational tenure among child welfare workers, burnout, stress, and intent to leave: Does employment-based social capital make a difference?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1657-1669.
    4. Andreas Tsounis & Despoina Xanthopoulou & Evangelia Demerouti & Konstantinos Kafetsios & Ioannis Tsaousis, 2023. "Workplace Social Capital: Redefining and Measuring the Construct," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 165(2), pages 555-583, January.
    5. Meng, Annette & Borg, Vilhelm & Clausen, Thomas, 2019. "Enhancing the social capital in industrial workplaces: Developing workplace interventions using intervention mapping," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 227-236.
    6. Miyuki Takase & Sachiko Teraoka & Yabase Kousuke, 2015. "Investigating the adequacy of the Competence‐Turnover Intention Model: how does nursing competence affect nurses’ turnover intention?," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(5-6), pages 805-816, March.

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