International Conference on Trade, Tourism and Management (ICTTM'2012) December 21-22, 2012 Bangkok (Thailand) Burnout, Personality, and Social Support: A Case of Malaysian Academics Fauziah Noordin1, Rohana Othman2, Ismie Roha Mohd Jais3, Janudin Sardi4 Abstract— The objectives of this study is to assess the level of II. BURNOUT, PERSONALITY, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT burnout among the academic staff; to examine the correlations of Maslach and Jackson [5] defined burnout as a syndrome personality and social support to the three components of burnout that is composed of three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, of the academic staff; and to determine the influence of selected demographic variables on the three components of burnout, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment. personality, and social support of the academics. The results show Emotional exhaustion refers to demands and stressors that that depersonalization and negative temperament indicate low mean cause people to feel overwhelmed and unable to give of scores; emotional exhaustion, positive temperament, and social themselves at a psychological level. Depersonalization is the support (friends), moderate mean scores; and personal development of negative and cynical attitudes that can create accomplishment, social support (significant other), and social a callous view of others, perceiving them as deserving of support (family) show high mean scores. The results of correlation their troubles. Reduced sense of personal accomplishment is analyses indicated several significant correlations between the the tendency to view oneself negatively and to be dissatisfied studied variables. The results of the independent group t-tests and with accomplishments. one-way between group ANOVA with post-hoc comparison indicate significant findings between the studied variables and Findings of previous research reported that burnout is selected demographic variables. related to various personal dysfunctions, such as physical exhaustion, insomnia, and increased drug and alcohol use. Keywords— Burnout, personality, social support. Some symptoms of burnout include lower motivation and satisfaction with work, increased risk of health impairments, I. INTRODUCTION social conflicts, and lower efficiency [6]. In addition, Jacobs and Dodd [7] postulate that many college students who seek URNOUT has been an ongoing concern for both counseling may be experiencing burnout or several of its B employers and employees. The adverse effects of consequences. They added that identifying factors that affect burnout, which have been manifested on both burnout is important in order to improve treatment and organizational and personal levels, have been well prevention models for student burnout. In their study, documented in research literature. Possible effects of burnout Maslach and Jackson [8] had emphasized on the at the organizational level are increased job turnover and psychological nature of burnout syndrome rather than the absenteeism as well as decreased employee involvement with physical work environment. Subsequent studies have the job, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction[1] substantiate their theory, by demonstrating the importance of [2]. In addition, burnout has been associated with physical internal (for example, personality) and interpersonal (for and mental health issues, among them physical exhaustion, example, social support) factors. Therefore, it is the intention insomnia, increased use of alcohol and drugs, family of this study examine these factors and to investigate the problems, depression, anxiety, headaches, backaches, and influence of personality and social support on burnout. gastric-intestinal problems [3] [4]. Based on the research findings in the literature, Given the severity of these effects, it is imperative that personality characteristics have generally been related to researchers and practitioners alike to learn as much as burnout. Several researchers have found extroversion to be possible about this incapacitating syndrome. correlated only with emotional exhaustion and reduced sense of personal accomplishment [9] whereas others have reported extroversion to be correlated only with depersonalisation and Fauziah Noordin1 is with the INTEC Education College, Universiti reduced personal accomplishment [10]. The relation of Teknologi MARA, Section 17 Campus, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor, neuroticism to burnout is also inconclusive, for example, Malaysia. Tel. No.: +60355227001/2; Fax: +60355227010; Email: [email protected]. Mills and Huebner[11], reported significant correlations with Rohana Othman2 is with the Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti all three components of burnout, whereas Zellars et al [12] Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. found a significant correlation only with emotional 3 Ismie Roha Mohd Jais is with the Academy of Language studies, exhaustion. Hence, further research is needed to further Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Janudin Sardi4 is with the Academy of Language studies, Universiti understand the relationships of these variables. Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Social support refers to a relationship with one or more other persons which is characterized by relatively frequent 112 International Conference on Trade, Tourism and Management (ICTTM'2012) December 21-22, 2012 Bangkok (Thailand) interactions, strong and positive feelings, and especially Results in Table 1 which range from .650 - .940 show perceive ability and willingness to lend emotional and/or acceptable level of reliability. The results in Table 2 indicate instrumental assistance in times of need [13]Social support that the depersonalization (m = 2.4416) and negative has also been found to be related to burnout [14], with temperament (m = 2.6221) indicate low mean scores, greater support generally related to lower levels of burnout. emotional exhaustion (m = 3.0569), positive temperament (m In addition, several studies of burnout in the workplace have = 3.6671), and social support (friends) (m = 3.9849) appear shown that social support from supervisors is related to lower to have moderate mean scores, and personal accomplishment levels of burnout, whereas other sources of social support (m = 4.6671), social support (significant other) (m = 4.1642), (for example, family, friends, and co-workers) are less and social support (family)(m = 4.1734) show high mean strongly related to increased burnout [15] scores. Review of the literature showed that most of the studies on burnout have been conducted on working population, that Table 2: Means of the Variables is, salespeople, teachers, nurses, human service workers, counselors, and school. Unfortunately, these limited studies Item Mean Std Deviation Emotional Exhaustion 3.0569 1.15860 have focused almost exclusively on individual and situational factor of the respondents, and very little is known about how Depersonalization 2.4416 1.07093 personality and social support factors are related to burnout Personal Accomplishment 4.6671 .89424 among academic staff of institutions of higher learning. Thus, Positive Temperament 3.6696 .47578 Negative Temperament 2.6221 .76644 the objectives of this study is to assess the level of burnout Social Support: Significant 4.1642 .87136 among the academic staff; to explore the relations of Other personality and social support to the three components of Social Support: Family 4.1734 .79183 burnout of the academic staff; and to determine the influence Social Support: Friends 3.9849 .76930 of selected demographic variables on the three components Note: 1.00 – 2.99 = low; 3.00 – 4.99 = moderate; 5.00-7.00 = high of burnout, personality, and social support of the academics. It appears, as shown in Table 3, that emotional exhaustion III. RESULTS OF THE STUDY has significant positive correlation with positive temperament (r = .54), significant negative correlation with social support Respondents’ Profile (friends) (r =-.18). Depersonalization seems to have One thousand two hundred and ninety sets of significant positive correlation with negative temperament questionnaires were distributed to the academics of the (r=.50) and significant negative correlation with social university. Three hundred and eighteen completed and usable support (friends) and job satisfaction (r =-.11 and r = -.24 questionnaire were returned and this gave a response rate of respectively). 24.65%. There are more female respondents for this survey. The female were 59.70% and male respondents were only 39.90%. Respondents age less than 31 years old are 15.40%, Table 3: Correlations of the Study Variables 31 – 44 years old are 39.00%, while over 44 years old are Emotional Depersonali Personal 45.30%. Majority of the respondents are married at 80.80% Variables Exhaustion zation Accomplishme and single respondents are only 18.60%. nt Positive -.06 -.01 .43** Reliability Analysis, Means, and Correlations of the Study Temperament Negative .54** .50** -.35** Variables Temperament Nunnaly [16] has argued that reliability estimates of .50 to Social Support -.09 -.03 .26** .60 are sufficient for basic research. (Sig. Other) Social Support -.11 -.09 .33** (Family) Table 1:Reliability Analysis Social Support -.18** -.11* .31** Item No of Cronbach’s Alpha (Friends) items Emotional Exhaustion 9 .877 In addition, personal accomplishment has significant Depersonalization 5 .751 positive correlation with positive temperament (r = .43), Personal 8 .650 Accomplishment