Social comparison and burnout: The role of relative burnout and received social support

Although there has been a great deal of research concerning myriad aspects of burnout, relatively little of that work has concerned the influence of social comparison processes in the etiology of burnout. We argue that social comparisons, in the form of perceptions of burnout relative to others, can influence the development of burnout, particularly when interacting with social support. A longitudinal study was designed to investigate the role that perceptions of relative burnout play in the development of future burnout. Downward comparison led to decreased levels of burnout and upward comparison led to increased levels of burnout, after a 2-month interval. We find support for the interactive effect of relative burnout and received social support (in the form of supportive conversations with coworkers) in predicting later emotional exhaustion and cynicism. We discuss the implications of this research for burnout theory and reduction and conclude with suggested directions for the future of research on the influence of social comparison on burnout.