Burnout and work engagement among psychiatric nurses are work characteristics important?

Aim: The aim of the study is evaluation of burnout and work engagement among psychiatric nurses, and determination of the relationship between these variables and the perceived demands of emotional display rules, emotional labour strategies, and of demands of interpersonal interactions. Method: Sixty psychiatric nurses completed the Polish version of the Maslach-Bumout Inventory MBI, the Polish version of the UWES, the Emotional Labour Scale, Emotion Work Requirements Scale and the Frequency, Duration and Routineness of Interactions Scale. Results: It was found that a greater burnout is associated with higher requirements of hiding negative emotions, surface acting, and routineness of interactions, whereas a lower burnout is connected with expression of naturally felt emotions and a high frequency of interpersonal interactions. Lower engagement in work is related with undertaking surface actions, while a greater dedication is associated with the duration of interaction. Discussion: Work requirements are of great importance for burnout, but less important for work engagement. The perceived demands for the display of positive emotions are related with both higher emotional exhaustion, and a lower feeling of the lack of accomplishments at work, which suggests that this aspect of work may be of a negative as well as positive importance. Conclusion: A relationship was found between work characteristics, and burnout and work engagement.