Love Under Duress: How Burnout Mediates the Relationship Between Partner Stress and the Perception of Romantic Partner Support

Abstract Employees face difficulties in the modern workplace that put a burden on both their professional and personal well-being. This study aimed to clarify the intricate interactions between romantic partner stress, burnout, and the support of a romantic partner in the healing process. The literature emphasizes the role of romantic partners as both resource givers and demand producers. This idea is based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) principle. We sampled full-time employees from various industries in committed long-term partnerships (N=277). Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to conduct our research, we provide support to understand the complex dynamics of romantic partner support in reducing work-related stress and its effects on burnout. Our results highlight how vital it is to comprehend how the supporting and demanding roles of romantic partners interact to influence burnout. We present our findings, discuss managerial implications, and outline recommendations for future research.