Demands and Resources: Weighing Interaction Effects on Occupational Burnout

Objective The need to identify the main determinants of occupational burnout gained new attention with the release of management of psychosocial standards. Based on the JD-R model and COR theory, the article compares demands and resources interactions and their effects on high levels of burnout. Methods Employees in Israel (N = 2010) reported job demands and organizational and personal resources. One year later, 1201 of them reported their burnout. The interactions effects on next-year burnout levels were analyzed using logistic regression. Results The enhancing interaction better predicts next-year burnout. Each additional stressor increases the risk for very high burnout (above 4) a year later (odds ratio = 1.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.55-2.00). Conclusions The cumulative interaction of stressors predicts next-year burnout levels. Moreover, we used concrete comparable values of the measures that may initiate a standardization process for organizational stressors.