Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping
Abstract Background While trauma exposure is an established predictor of poor mental health among humanitarian aid workers (HAWs), less is known about the role of psychosocial work-related factors. This study aims to establish a psychosocial model for burnout and psychological distress in HAWs that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00512-1 |
| _version_ | 1797850067796754432 |
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| author | Cheryl Yunn Shee Foo Alvin Kuowei Tay Yexinyu Yang Helen Verdeli |
| author_facet | Cheryl Yunn Shee Foo Alvin Kuowei Tay Yexinyu Yang Helen Verdeli |
| author_sort | Cheryl Yunn Shee Foo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While trauma exposure is an established predictor of poor mental health among humanitarian aid workers (HAWs), less is known about the role of psychosocial work-related factors. This study aims to establish a psychosocial model for burnout and psychological distress in HAWs that tests and compares the effects of adversity exposure and workplace stressors in combination, and explores the potential mediating role of individual coping styles. Methods Path analysis and model comparison using cross-sectional online survey data were collected from full-time international and local HAWs in Bangladesh between December 2020 and February 2021. HAWs self-reported on exposure to adversities, workplace psychosocial stressors (Third Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), coping styles (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey), and psychological distress (Kessler-6). Results Among N = 111 HAWs, 30.6%, 16.4%, 12.7%, and 8.2% screened positive for moderate psychological distress (8 ≤ Kessler-6 ≤ 12), emotional exhaustion (EE ≥ 27), depersonalization (DP ≥ 13), and severe psychological distress (K-6 ≥ 13), respectively. 28.8% reported a history of mental disorder. The preferred model showed distinct pathways from adversity exposure and workplace stressors to burnout, with negative emotion-focused coping and psychological distress as significant intervening variables. While greater exposure to both types of stressors were associated with higher levels of burnout and distress, workplace stressors had a stronger association with psychological outcomes than adversity exposure did (β = .52, p ≤ .001 vs. β = .20, p = .032). Workplace stressors, but not adversities, directly influenced psychological distress (β = .45, p ≤ .001 vs. β = −.01, p = .927). Demographic variables, task-focused and avoidance-focused coping were not significantly associated with psychological outcomes. Conclusions Compared to exposure to adversities, workplace stressors primarily influenced occupational stress syndromes. Reducing workplace stressors and enhancing adaptive coping may improve psychological outcomes in humanitarian staff. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:54:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e793981401544240b17b045e90eb690d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:54:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e793981401544240b17b045e90eb690d2023-04-09T11:18:02ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052023-04-0117111210.1186/s13031-023-00512-1Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion copingCheryl Yunn Shee Foo0Alvin Kuowei Tay1Yexinyu Yang2Helen Verdeli3Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University of New YorkThe Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales SydneyDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDepartment of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University of New YorkAbstract Background While trauma exposure is an established predictor of poor mental health among humanitarian aid workers (HAWs), less is known about the role of psychosocial work-related factors. This study aims to establish a psychosocial model for burnout and psychological distress in HAWs that tests and compares the effects of adversity exposure and workplace stressors in combination, and explores the potential mediating role of individual coping styles. Methods Path analysis and model comparison using cross-sectional online survey data were collected from full-time international and local HAWs in Bangladesh between December 2020 and February 2021. HAWs self-reported on exposure to adversities, workplace psychosocial stressors (Third Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), coping styles (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey), and psychological distress (Kessler-6). Results Among N = 111 HAWs, 30.6%, 16.4%, 12.7%, and 8.2% screened positive for moderate psychological distress (8 ≤ Kessler-6 ≤ 12), emotional exhaustion (EE ≥ 27), depersonalization (DP ≥ 13), and severe psychological distress (K-6 ≥ 13), respectively. 28.8% reported a history of mental disorder. The preferred model showed distinct pathways from adversity exposure and workplace stressors to burnout, with negative emotion-focused coping and psychological distress as significant intervening variables. While greater exposure to both types of stressors were associated with higher levels of burnout and distress, workplace stressors had a stronger association with psychological outcomes than adversity exposure did (β = .52, p ≤ .001 vs. β = .20, p = .032). Workplace stressors, but not adversities, directly influenced psychological distress (β = .45, p ≤ .001 vs. β = −.01, p = .927). Demographic variables, task-focused and avoidance-focused coping were not significantly associated with psychological outcomes. Conclusions Compared to exposure to adversities, workplace stressors primarily influenced occupational stress syndromes. Reducing workplace stressors and enhancing adaptive coping may improve psychological outcomes in humanitarian staff.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00512-1Humanitarian aidPsychosocialWorkplace stressBurnoutMental healthOccupational health |
| spellingShingle | Cheryl Yunn Shee Foo Alvin Kuowei Tay Yexinyu Yang Helen Verdeli Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping Conflict and Health Humanitarian aid Psychosocial Workplace stress Burnout Mental health Occupational health |
| title | Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping |
| title_full | Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping |
| title_fullStr | Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping |
| title_short | Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping |
| title_sort | psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in bangladesh role of workplace stressors and emotion coping |
| topic | Humanitarian aid Psychosocial Workplace stress Burnout Mental health Occupational health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00512-1 |
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