Investigating work conditions and burnout at three hierarchical levels.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the differences and the association between work conditions and symptoms of burnout at the three hierarchical levels: subordinates, first-line managers, and middle managers.


METHODS
Analyses were based on questionnaire data from 4096 employees in nine organizations, containing three hierarchical levels: subordinates (n = 3659), first-line managers (n = 345), and middle managers (n = 92).


RESULTS
Work conditions were found to differ between the three hierarchical levels, mostly between subordinates and managers. Managers experienced fewer symptoms of burnout than subordinates. Furthermore, the association between work conditions and burnout differed for subordinates, first-line managers, and middle managers.


CONCLUSIONS
Occupational health research needs to focus more on differences between hierarchical levels regarding work conditions and burnout.
From the HELIX VINN Excellence Centre (Mr Lundqvist, Mrs Reineholm, and Drs Gustavsson and Ekberg), National Centre for Work and Rehabilitation; Department of Medical and Health Sciences (Mr Lundqvist, Mrs Reineholm, and Dr Ekberg); and Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (Dr Gustavsson), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Daniel
D
Lundqvist
Cathrine
C
Reineholm
Maria
M
Gustavsson
Kerstin
K
Ekberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult