Burnout, work engagement and sense of coherence in female academics at two universities in South Africa
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Authors
Bezuidenhout, Adéle
Cilliers, Frans
Issue Date
2010
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Burnout , Sense of coherence , Female academics
Alternative Title
Abstract
rientation: Female academics in higher-education institutions face numerous challenges in
the continuously changing landscape of South African higher education. Mergers, increasing
job demands, ever-increasing class sizes and role conflict inherent in the female role contribute
extensively to the manifestation of stress and burnout in this population group.
Research purpose: This research was conducted from a salutogenic paradigm, seeking to find ways
of avoiding the negative consequences of burnout and contributing towards the positive experience
of work engagement for the female academic. The research also explored the effect of the individual
academic’s sense of coherence (SOC) on her experience of burnout and work engagement.
Research design, approach and method: The research was quantitative in nature. A psychometric
instrument was sent to all the permanently employed female academics at Unisa and Tshwane
University of Technology (TUT), measuring their levels of burnout, work engagement and SOC.
The completed questionnaires were statistically analysed.
Main findings: The findings included average levels of burnout, with definite signs that the
experience of burnout is on the increase. The cynicism sub-dimension of burnout showed increased
levels, work engagement scores were just above average and SOC scores were low.
Practical/managerial implications: This article offers a psychological interpretation of the
variables in the target group. The article contributes towards the body of research studies conducted
from a positive psychological paradigm and, specifically, on the female gender.
Contribution/value-add: The main recommendations are that university management needs to
take cognisance of the alarming symptoms of burnout present in the population under discussion.
Strategies are recommended to address these and to nurture work engagement.