Utbrenthet og mestring i et norsk utvalg. En surveystudie av sammenhengen mellom jobbkrav, jobbressurser, mestring og utbrenthet (N=5022)

The aim of this master thesis is to investigate the relationships between job demands (time pressure), job resources (autonomy), coping and burnout. A particular emphasis in this thesis is whether coping strategies moderate the relationship between job demands, job resources, and burnout. A total of 5022 respondents from eight different occupational groups participated in the study, and a response rate of 62,8 % was achieved. Five hypotheses were explored. Hypothesis 1 postulated a direct positive relationship between job demands (time pressure) and the burnout dimensions; exhaustion, cynicism and redused professional efficacy. Hypothesis 2 assumed a direct negative relationship between job resources (autonomy) and the three burnout dimensions. Further, hypothesis 3 suggested a direct positive relationship between negative coping and the burnout dimensions, and a direct negative relationship between positive coping and the burnout dimensions. In addition to the hypotheses considering direct effects, hypotheses concerning moderation effects have been postulated. Hypothesis 4 assumed that coping strategies moderate the relationship between time pressure and the three burnout dimentions, while hypothesis 5 suggested that coping strategies moderate the relationship between autonomy and the burnout dimentions. The results of the present study supports the assumed direct effects between time pressure, autonomy and coping strategies on burnout (hypothesis 1-3). Further, support was found for the moderation effect of positive passive coping on the association between time pressure and burnout (hypothesis 4b), but the effect was small. The results did not support the remaining moderation hypotheses 4a, 5a and b. The findings of this master thesis indicate that job demands and negative coping are associated with an increase in burnout, while job resources and positive coping are associated with a decrease in burnout. The results support that both individual factors as coping strategies and organizational factors as time pressure and autonomy play an important role in the burnout process. Methodological strengths and weaknessess, implications for theory and practice, and future research are discussed