The relationship between work intensity, workaholism, burnout and musculoskeletal complaints within the South African context

Abstract

Technological advances within the work environment has dynamically changed the tools by means of which work is done lately and the methods applied for doing it, with a large amount of modern work being fast-paced and sedentary in nature, i.e. seated in front of a computer screen. These prolonged hours spent in single statue-like form could have long-term negative effects on employees‟ health. Work intensity refers to an experience of high job demands coupled with high time demands, which inhibits employees‟ ability to effectively recover energy expended during the work day. Workaholism, as a phenomenon of working excessively and compulsively, also hampers effort-recovery in the long term. This erosion of energetic capacity can have detrimental consequences for the afflicted such as burnout and musculoskeletal complaints – which in turn can affect organisational performance. The general objective of this study was to determine the relationship between work intensity, musculoskeletal complaints, workaholism and burnout. A quantitative and cross-sectional research design was adopted. The data was collected by means of convenience sampling among white-collar office employees within an engineering organisation in the Gauteng province of South Africa (n = 398). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted within a structural equation modelling framework to test the research hypotheses. The results revealed that a positive interrelatedness of all the concepts, namely i) work intensity, ii) workaholism, iii) burnout, and iii) musculoskeletal complaints exists. Specifically work intensity displayed a positive and significant relationship with musculoskeletal complaints. Work intensity also displayed a significant positive relationship with both workaholism and burnout. Furthermore, Workaholism had a positive relationship with musculoskeletal complaints and with burnout. Lastly, burnout demonstrated a significant and positive relationship with musculoskeletal complaints. Recommendations were made for further consideration, with the practice in mind. Further to this, limitations of this current research and avenues for future research were discussed. Tegnologiese vooruitgang binne die werksomgewing het dinamies verander met betrekking tot die gereedskap waarmee werk tans verrig word en die wyse waarop dit uitgevoer word. Talle moderne beroepe het snel en sedentêr van aard geraak – met ander woorde gesete voor ʼn rekenaarskerm. Hierdie lang uitgerekte ure waartydens ʼn konstante standbeeldagtige houding gehandhaaf word, kan op lang termyn newe-effekte hê op werknemers se gesondheid. Werkintensiteit verwys na hoë werkseise gepaard met hoë tyd-eise, wat die vermoë van werknemers om die energie wat hulle gedurende die werkdag verbruik het, effektief te herwin. Werkverslaafdheid – ʼn verskynsel wat voorkom by mense wat oormatig en kompulsief werk – belemmer ook op die lange duur die energieherstel-proses. Hierdie erosie van energiekapasiteit kan nadelige gevolge hê vir diegene wat ly, soos uitbranding en muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede, wat op hul beurt organisasie-prestasie beïnvloed. Die oorkoepelende doel van hierdie studie was om die onderlinge verband tussen werkintensiteit, muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede, werkverslawing en uitbranding te bepaal. ʼn Kwantitatiewe en deursnee-navorsingsontwerp is hiervoor aangewend. Die data is ingesamel aan die hand van gerieflikheid-steekproefneming onder witboordjie-werknemers binne 'n ingenieurswese-organisasie in Gauteng, ʼn provinsie van Suid-Afrika (n = 398). Bevestigende faktorontleding is gedoen binne 'n strukturelevergelyking-modelleringsraamwerk om die navorsingshipoteses te toets. Die resultate het getoon dat 'n positiewe verband onderling by al die faktore, naamlik i) werkintensiteit, ii) werkverslawing, iii) uitbranding en iv) muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede, voorkom Werkintensiteit spesifiek hou positief en betekenisvol verband met muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede. Werkintensiteit hou ook betekenisvol positief verband met beide werkverslawing en uitbranding. Werkverslaafdheid hou verband met beide muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede en uitbranding. Laastens hou uitbranding betekenisvol positief verband met muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede. Aanbevelings is gemaak met die praktyk in gedagte. Voorts is beperkings van die onderhawige navorsing asook moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing bespreek.

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eide werkverslawing en uitbranding. Werkverslaafdheid hou verband met beide uskuloskeletale ongesteldhede en uitbranding. Laastens hou uitbranding betekenisvol ositief verband met muskuloskeletale ongesteldhede.

anbevelings is gemaak met die praktyk in gedagte. Voorts is beperkings van die nderhawige navorsing asook moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing bespreek.