Married men less likely to feel workplace burnout: Study

A new study suggests that men who are married are less likely to experience burnout at their workplace Workplace burnout is widespread and can have a detrimental effect on employee performance wellbeing and the overall productivity of the organisationThe study led by a team at National Research University Higher School of Economics HSE in Russia showed that satisfaction in personal relationships can help lower the manifestation of workplace burnout syndromeBurnout causes significant mental fatigue and manifests through emotional exhaustion depersonalisation a state in which individuals feel disconnected from their body thoughts or emotions and a decline in personal fulfilmentFor the study the team conducted a survey of 203 employees across different Russian companies wherein the participants were asked to assess their satisfaction with personal relationships and the presence of workplace burnout symptomsThe results indicate that as the level of marital satisfaction increases the risk of burnout decreases and this correlation is more pronounced in menThe researchers attribute these findings to disparities in social roles and stereotypes attributed to men and women along with variations in expectations related to marriage and careerFor men career success can often become a fundamental aspect of their identity and selfesteem As a result they may encounter greater pressure in the workplace and experience elevated stress levels while striving to fulfil their duties and meet expectations said Ilya Bulgakov Doctoral Student HSE School of PsychologyIn this context marital satisfaction and feeling supported in ones private life can become critical factors in preventing burnout among men Bulgakov addedWhen it comes to women depersonalisation characterised by a sense of detachment from colleagues and clients and a decrease in empathy and compassion has a greater impact on the development of burnoutFor men the most significant factor is emotional fatigue from being overwhelmed with requests and feeling incapable of effectively managing themThe researchers suggest that depersonalisation experienced by women is linked to the societal expectations and social roles commonly imposed on them within the professional realmThus in many cultures there is an expectation for women to demonstrate nurturing and empathetic behaviourWomen frequently experience pressure concerning the amount of emotional support they offer to colleagues clients or patientsEscalation of such expectations can result in heightened stress and a tendency to disengage from these responsibilities ultimately leading to depersonalisation with a detrimental effect on work performance and relationships with colleagues and clientsIn men emotional burnout can be triggered by social expectations linked to their roles as providers and protectors which frequently entail a significant level of responsibility and workrelated stressThe findings reveal that men who experience greater professional success also tend to have higher levels of satisfaction with their personal relationshipsNo such correlation has been found for womenThis suggests that support in ones personal life may play a more significant role in facilitating workplace success for men compared to women the researchers saidThey emphasised that for organisations understanding the specific aspects of employee burnout can serve as a valuable tool in managing stressful situations and enhancing motivationAlso Read Workplace romance can harm company work culture ResearchThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever