Continuous changes in the security systems around the world, along with the increased
pressure to perform may result in feelings of distrust, strain in interpersonal relations,
psychological strain, fatigue and tension, all affecting the well-being of employees, especially
among protection services members. Work wellness becomes an important aspect when
focusing on the safety of people to whom the protection services delivers a service, as well as
when the focus is on the safety of these members. Burnout and work engagement are specific
focus areas in this regard. To measure burnout and work engagement, it is important to use
reliable and valid instruments. Along with burnout and work engagement there are other
focus areas that can have a direct influence on these dimensions, namely the perception of
organisational politics. The impact of perceptions of organisational politics on burnout and
work engagement can be moderated or mediated by sense of coherence.
The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between work wellness,
organisational politics and sense of coherence through the development of a model of work
wellness for protection services members comprising of burnout, work engagement,
organisational politics and sense of coherence.
The research method consists of a literature review and an empirical study. A cross-sectional
survey design was used to collect the data. An availability sample (N = 341) from protection
services members was taken. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS),
Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Perceptions of Organisational Politics (POPS),
Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OTLQ) and a biographical questionnaire were
administered. The statistical analysis was carried out with the help of the SPSS-programme
and AMOS. The statistical methods utilised in the article consisted of descriptive statistics,
Cronbach alpha coefficients, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation
coefficients and structural equation modelling methods.
vii
Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a two factor model of burnout, consisting of burnout
(exhaustion and cynicism) and professional efficacy which represented the data quite well
after certain items were left out. In previous research among protection services members two
factors in the UWES could also be extracted namely vigour/dedication and absorption. The
MBI-GS and UWES both showed acceptable internal consistencies.
The analysis of Pearson correlations in this study showed that burnout is negatively related to
Vigour/dedication and sense of coherence. Professional efficacy is positively related to
Vigour/dedication and absorption. Vigour/Dedication is positively related to absorption and
sense of coherence.
Prolonged exposure to things like criminal aspects, life-and-death decision making and
general political behaviour at organisational level, can result in feelings of burnout. Negative
perceptions of organisational politics resulted in higher levels of burnout experienced by
protection services members. Sense of coherence mediated the effect of organisational
politics on work wellness.
Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/522 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Muller, Petra Helena Elizabeth |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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