Burnout and Cognitive Performance

Panagiota Koutsimani, Anthony Montgomery, Elvira Masoura and Efharis Panagopoulou
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Panagiota Koutsimani: Department of Educational & Social Policy, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Anthony Montgomery: Department of Educational & Social Policy, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Elvira Masoura: Department of Experimental Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Efharis Panagopoulou: Laboratory of Hygiene, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between burnout and cognitive functioning. The associations of depression, anxiety and family support with burnout and cognitive functioning were also examined both independently and as potential moderators of the burnout–cognitive functioning relationship. Seven different cognitive tasks were administered to employees of the general working population and five cognitive domains were assessed; i.e., executive functions, working memory, memory (episodic, visuospatial, prospective), attention/speed of processing and visuospatial abilities. Burnout, depression, anxiety and family support were assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Family Support Scale respectively. In congruence with the first and fourth (partially) Hypotheses, burnout and perceived family support are significantly associated with some aspects of cognitive functioning. Moreover, in line with the third Hypothesis, perceived family support is inversely related to burnout. However, in contrast to the second and fourth Hypotheses, depression, anxiety and perceived family support do not moderate the burnout–cognitive functioning relationship. Additional results reveal positive associations between burnout depression and anxiety. Overall findings suggest that cognitive deficits, depression and anxiety appear to be common in burnout while they underpin the role of perceived family support in both mental health and cognitive functioning. Implications for practice are discussed.

Keywords: burnout; cognitive functioning; depression; anxiety; family support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:2145-:d:503853

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