The Relationship between Burnout and Engagement: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

by Alarcon, Gene Michael

Researchers have purported that burnout and engagement measure the same three latent constructs, energy, identification, and efficacy at work, but few have actually researched the theory (Maslach & Leiter, 1997; Schaufeli & Bakker, 2004). Burnout has been consistently related to workplace demands such as emotional labor (Brotheridge & Grandey, 2002; Brotheridge & Lee, 2002). The current study investigated whether burnout and engagement are comprised of energy, identification, and efficacy in a sample with high demands for emotional labor. A confirmatory factor analysis suggested that burnout and engagement might in fact be separate second order latent constructs comprised of only two constructs, emotional exhaustion and cynicism, and vigor and dedication for burnout and engagement, respectively.