Stress, Burnout, and Their Effects Organizational Communication

stress process

The ongoing experience of workplace pressures that challenge emotional and physical health. Example: Constant deadlines causing fatigue.

model of stress in the workplace

Stressors → Emotional strain → Outcomes like burnout or turnover. Example: Heavy workload → stress → quitting the job.

burnout

A chronic state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion due to long-term stress. Example: A teacher who feels numb and unmotivated after months of pressure.

three dimensions of burnout

1️⃣ Emotional exhaustion, 2️⃣ Lack of personal accomplishment, 3️⃣ Depersonalization. Example: Feeling drained, ineffective, and detached.

emotional exhaustion

Feeling drained and unable to emotionally engage. Example: A social worker too tired to care deeply anymore.

lack of personal accomplishment

Feeling ineffective or unappreciated at work. Example: A therapist doubting their impact on clients.

depersonalization

Becoming detached or cynical toward others as a defense mechanism. Example: A doctor treating patients like “cases” instead of people.

workers viewing others through “rust-colored glasses”

When burnout makes employees cynical or negative about others. Example: Assuming everyone is lazy or incompetent.

workload

One of the most common stressors — too much work in too little time. Example: Doing the job of two people.

stressors outside the workplace

Family responsibilities or personal issues that spill into work stress. Example: Caring for a sick parent while meeting deadlines.

intersection of work and home

When emotional demands of one role affect the other. Example: Bringing work frustration home or vice versa.

physiological outcomes of burnout

Physical effects like fatigue, headaches, or sleep problems. Example: Insomnia from chronic stress.

attitudinal outcomes of burnout

Reduced job satisfaction or commitment. Example: Feeling disengaged from work goals.

organizational outcomes of burnout

Increased absenteeism, turnover, and lower performance. Example: High employee turnover in stressful jobs.

Outcome of stress in the workplace

Physiological, attitudinal, and organizational results of burnout. Examples: coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, lower job satisfaction, less commitment, and turnover.