A longitudinal study of the relationship between empowerment and burnout among registered and assistant nurses.
The relation between empowerment and burnout was investigated using a two-wave and two-variable panel model. A questionnaire was completed on two occasions, one year apart, by 1,356 nurses. The paths in the model were estimated using regression analyses and the following results were obtained: (a) empowerment is a stable state; (b) higher levels of empowerment are related to lower levels of burnout, when empowerment and burnout are studied at the same point in time; (c) higher prior levels of empowerment can be associated with higher later levels of burnout, when empowerment and burnout are studied at different points in time; (d) for assistant nurses, but not for registered nurses, prior higher levels of burnout resulted in lower later levels of empowerment, indicating a reciprocal relation between the two concepts. The results imply that what is a protective factor from a cross-sectional perspective may be a risk factor from a longitudinal perspective.
Hochwälder
Jacek
J
Stockholm Centre of Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden. Mid Sweden University, Ostersund, Sweden. jacek.hochwalder@miun.se
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden