A model of interrelationships among personal resources, sociodemographic variables, and dimensions of burnout

Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to develop a model explaining the interrelationships among selected personal resources, sociodemographic variables, and burnout. Specifically, the aim was to validate the construct of perceived stress as a personal resource and to clarify its relationship with self-efficacy and burnout. The aim was also to answer the question of which demographic and social variables provide the greatest protection against burnout. Materials and methods: The study involved a group of 1,358 individuals. The LINK Burnout Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale, and a questionnaire with selected demographic and social characteristics were used to gather data. Four theoretical models were tested using structural equation modelling. Results: An empirical model was obtained based on three latent exogenous variables: personal resources, demographic and social variables, and one latent endogenous variable. The study demonstrated that, from the perspective of burnout, the role of current situation appraisal is greater than the self-reported level of self-efficacy. A positive impact of having children at home on professional efficacy was confirmed, with no negative impact on exhaustion. Similar relationships were observed for married individuals. The impact of personal and social resources as well as demographic variables should be linked to specific dimensions of burnout. Conclusions: Treating perceived stress levels as a relatively enduring personal trait strengthens its role as a predictor of burnout. This is important from the point of view of choosing preventive methods. The findings highlight the need to link individual resources, sociodemographic characteristics more closely with specific dimensions of burnout, and to treat work and personal life as interrelated rather than functioning independently.