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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Recreation leaders--Job stress; Burn out (Psychology); Leisure industry--Employees;

Abstract

The term burnout was developed to describe a phenomenon modern work forces were experiencing. Organizations were facing high rates of absenteeism, low productivity, low quality, and reduced economic gains because of this phenomenon. In the later stages of burnout, employees were facing increased levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a sense of diminished accomplishment in their jobs. Although large amounts of research have been conducted in professions such as nursing, teaching, and social work, very little exploration of burnout has occured [sic] in municipal leisure service organizations. The purpose of this study was to explore the existence of burnout within staff of municipal leisure service organizations. The study was descriptive in nature using ordinal data and the non-parametric statistical analysis, chi squared. The independent variables identified in this study were title of position, years of experience in employees positions, education level, age, and sex. The dependent variable was burnout; it included three subscales (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment). The instrument used to ascertain individual level of burnout was the Maslach Burnout Inventory. In addition, a demographic questionnaire was used to collect personal data. Results indicated that there was a significant association between age and burnout on the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales, however, no significance was found on the reduced personal accomplishment subscale. Furthermore, a significant association between years in a position and the title of the position on the reduced personal accomplishment subscale, was achieved. In examining the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales and their association with burnout, no significance was found. The null hypotheses were retained for education level, age, and sex and their association with all three subscales.

Year of Submission

1994

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

First Advisor

Debra Jordan

Second Advisor

Donald G. DeGraaf

Third Advisor

Jane Mertesdorf

Comments

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Date Original

1994

Object Description

1 PDF file (113 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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