Burnout without a job: An explorative study on a sample of Italian unemployed jobseekers

Background:Search for work is in itself a job and its outcomes are similar to those of job burnout: it can generate feelings of exhaustion, detachment from the commitment to research, and a sense of ineffectiveness. The aim of the present study is to investigate the construct of burnout within the category of long-term unemployed people engaged in job search activity. Design and methods:The study has a cross-sectional, descriptive, and exploratory nature. Two hundred eight Italian unemployed jobseekers compiled an adaptation of the OCS Burnout scale, by Maslach and Leiter. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed to investigate the psychometric features of the instrument. The relations between the instrument and age and months of job search variables were assessed through Spearman's Rho coefficient of co-graduation. Finally, a MANOVA was carried out. Results:The questionnaire is able to intercept and describe the dimensions of respondents' burnout with respect to four dimensions: Exhaustion, Disengagement, Effectiveness in job search, Disillusion. Correlation analysis shows that the duration of the job search period has a positive relationship with Exhaustion, Disillusion, and Disengagement; a negative relationship with Effectiveness in job search. Finally, MANOVA shows that older unemployed people rate themselves less effective in job searching and more exhausted, compared to younger unemployed people. Conclusions:The psychosocial effects of job search on the unemployed are still little studied, and this research, through the construct of burnout, proposes a comprehensive and articulated key to its understanding.

Automated summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the burnout construct within the category of long-term unemployed individuals engaged in job search activity. The study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive, and exploratory design, with 208 Italian unemployed jobseekers completing an adapted version of the OCS Burnout scale. Findings revealed positive relationships between job search duration and exhaustion, disillusionment, and disengagement, while a negative relationship was observed with effectiveness in job search. Additionally, MANOVA analysis indicated that older unemployed individuals rated themselves as less effective and more exhausted compared to younger individuals. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the psychosocial effects of job search on the unemployed.