Extensive research on burnout in different occupational fields has taken place internationally.
However, no studies on students at higher education institutions in South Africa have been
performed. The objective of this research was to standardise the Maslach Burnout Inventory-
Student Survey (MBI-SS) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student Survey (UWESSS)
for student leaders in a South African university. Further objectives included empirically
determining the relationships between burnout and engagement on the one hand, and work
stress, optimism, individual and organisational commitment on the other. In so doing the
researchers would be able to advise higher education institutions on how they could help with
preventing burnout in student leaders, as well as enhancing the work engagement of these
student leaders.
A cross-sectional survey design was used. The entire population of student leaders were
involved (N=196). The population of student leaders consisted of student leaders of 22
different House Committees and the Students' Representative Council. The Maslach Burnout
Inventory-Student Survey and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student Survey, Life
Orientation Test Revised, Attitudes Towards Your Organisation Survey and Position
Characteristics Survey were administered. Descriptive and interferential statistics were used
to analyse the data.
The results obtained for MBI-SS proved this measuring instrument to be reliable and valid.
By using the structural equation modelling approach a three-dimensional factor structure for
burnout among student leaders emerged which supported earlier conceptions in this regard.
The same applies to the UWES-SS.
The results showed that for the Burnout model Emotional Exhaustion was best predicted by
Overload, Cynicism by Job Demands and Professional Eficacy by Resources. For the Engagement model Absorption was best predicted by Recources and Dedication and Vigour were best predicted by Optimism. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/175 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Sieberhagen, Charlotte |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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