A Proof-of-Concept System Dynamics Simulation Model of the Development of Burnout and Recovery Using Retrospective Case Data

Guido A. Veldhuis, Teun Sluijs, Marianne H. J. van Zwieten, Jildau Bouwman, Noortje M. Wiezer and Heleen M. Wortelboer
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Guido A. Veldhuis: Department Military Operations, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 2509 JG The Hague, The Netherlands
Teun Sluijs: Department Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
Marianne H. J. van Zwieten: Department Work, Health & Technology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands
Jildau Bouwman: Department Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
Noortje M. Wiezer: Department Work, Health & Technology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 2301 DA Leiden, The Netherlands
Heleen M. Wortelboer: Department Microbiology and Systems Biology, The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-28

Abstract: The phenomenon of burnout is a complex issue, which despite major efforts from researchers and organizations remains hard to prevent. The current literature highlights an increasing global prevalence of employees that are dealing with burnout. What has been largely missing is a more systemic, dynamic, and personal perspective on the interactions of the key determinants of burnout. Burnout can be seen as the outcome of a complex system involving feedback loops between individual mental models, individual behavior, and external social influences. Understanding the feedback loops involved may enable employees and organizations to intervene in burnout trajectories early and effectively. System dynamics (SD) modeling is a methodology that can describe the structure and behavior of a complex system. The current paper describes the development of an SD model of burnout. First, an expert- and literature-informed causal loop diagram (CLD) of burnout is developed. Then, a novel approach is developed to collect personal retrospective scenario data. Finally, the CLD and data are translated into a quantitative SD model. The potential of the SD model is illustrated by simulating the behavior of three realistic personas during the onset of and recovery from burnout. The process of development of an SD model of burnout is presented and the strengths and limitations of the approach are discussed.

Keywords: burnout; individual perceptions and behavior; social environment; scenario simulation; system dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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