Get Outside: The Moderating Effects of Exposure to Nature on the Work Stress-Burnout Relationship

This study explores the relatively uncharted territory of nature exposure within the workplace and its influence on mitigating burnout. While prior research has linked access to nature with enhanced well-being, a gap persists in understanding how exposure to nature moderates the relationship between work stress and burnout. Employing a cross-sectional design with 724 working individuals in the United States, a survey was conducted to assess burnout, work stress, nature exposure, and climate data. The present study explores how green workplaces, which involve the presence of physical and artificial greenery in the work environment, and the employees’ perceptions that the organization supports environmental sustainability through policy and practice. Results suggest employees in green work environments report lower burnout. Additionally, a three-way interaction between work stress suggested there were individual differences in the benefits of green work environments in relation to the value employees place on nature, one’s environmental identity. Overall, the study investigates a novel idea in industrial/organizational literature and builds upon the scarce research that aims to understand the effects of nature exposure to the work environment. Lastly, practical implications, future directions, and limitations are provided.