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The role of length of service and social support in mitigating work stress: a study on burnout among elderly Chinese volunteers in Hong Kong
Date Issued
2003
Citation
Yan, E. C. W., Tang, S. K., & Cheung, F. Y. L. (2003 Jul 26-29). The role of length of service and social support in mitigating work stress: a study on burnout among elderly Chinese volunteers in Hong Kong. 5th Australian Industrial & Organizational Psychology Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the role of length of volun-tary service and social support in mitigating burnout among 355 elderly Chinese voluntary workers in HongKong. A 2-factor structure of burnout, namely emotional depletion and lack of personal accomplishment, was foundin the present elderly sample. Results showed that a long period of voluntary service was predictive of a high level of emotional depletion but a low level of lack of personal accomplishment. Findings also affirmed the interaction effect of social support on emotional depletion, and the main effect of social support on lack of personal accom-plishment. In particular, the family emotional support xlength of service 2-way interaction effect indicated that emotional depletion was the most intense among elderlyvo luntary workers with many years of service and a low level of emotional support from their family members, and was the least intense among those with a short duration of service and a high level of family emotional support. For lack of personal accomplishment, the main effect of social support indicated that regardless of the length of voluntary service, this dimension of burnout was more intense among those with low levels of emotional support from family members and other voluntary workers. Findings will have significant implications for mitigating burnout among elderly voluntary workers.
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