Burnout in the disaster response workforce: The impact of work roles and the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.0593

Keywords:

burnout, COVID-19, disaster response

Abstract

The coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic cor­responded with a record-breaking year for billion-dollar disasters. While the pandemic swept across the United States, the country also experienced a record-setting hurricane season on the East Coast and an unprecedented wildfire season on the West Coast. These co-occurring threats have placed unprecedented strain on our disaster response workforce with poten­tial long-term implications for turnover and disaster response efficacy. In this paper, we draw from the Job Demands-Resources model to address the influence of workers’ role stressors and community infection rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and job burnout and turnover in the disaster response workforce. 

Author Biographies

Kelsey L. Merlo, PhD

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Katrina M. Conen, BA

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Blake Scott, MPH

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Kayla Jones, MA

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Elizabeth A. Dunn, MPH, CPH

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Jennifer Marshall, PhD

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

References

World Health Organization: International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 11th Revision. World Health Organization, 2020.

Shirom A, Melamed S, Toker S, et al.: Burnout and health review: Current knowledge and future research directions. In: Hodgkinson GP, Ford JK (eds.): International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Vol 20. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/0470029307.ch7

Toker S, Melamed S, Berliner S, et al.: Burnout and risk of coronary heart disease: A prospective study of 8838 employees. Psychosom Med. 2012; 74(8): 840-847. DOI:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31826c3174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e31826c3174

Lee RT, Ashforth B: A meta-analytic examination of the corre¬lates of the three dimensions of job burnout. J Appl Psychol. 1996; 81(2): 123-133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-9010.81.2.123

Swider BW, Zimmerman RD: Born to burnout: A meta-analytic path model of personality, job burnout, and work outcomes. J Vocat Behav. 2010; 76(3): 487-506. DOI:10/d9jt8p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.01.003

Demerouti E, Bakker AB, Nachreiner F, et al.: The job demands-resources model of burnout. J Appl Psychol. 2001; 86(3): 499. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-9010.86.3.499

Kahn RL, Wolfe DM, Quinn RP, et al.: Organizational Stress: Studies in Role Conflict and Ambiguity. New York: John Wiley, 1964.

Jaramillo F, Mulki JP, Boles JS: Workplace stressors, job attitude, and job behaviors: Is interpersonal conflict the missing link? J Pers Sell Sales Manag. 2011; 31(3): 339-356. DOI:10.2753/PSS0885- 3134310310. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2753/PSS0885-3134310310

Rizzo JR, House RJ, Lirtzman SI: Role conflict and ambigu¬ity in complex organizations. Adm Sci Q. 1970; 15(2): 150-163. DOI:10.2307/2391486. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2391486

Zulkifli A, Ali M, Pahlevi C, et al.: Family and organization roles in disaster risk reduction: Burnout reduction on workers. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2019; 235. DOI:10.1088/1755- 1315/235/1/012109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/235/1/012109

Azoulay E, De Waele J, Ferrer R, et al.: Symptoms of burnout in intensive care unit specialists facing the COVID-19 outbreak. Ann Intensive Care. 2020; 10(1): 110. DOI:10.1186/s13613-020- 00722-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-020-00722-3

Merlo KL, Marshall J, Yusuf W, et al.: Workshop #6: Psychological Adjustment for the 2020 Hurricane Season during COVID-19 Pandemic. University of South Florida, Old Dominion University, 2020.

Schimmenti A, Billieux J, Starcevic V: The four horsemen of fear: An integrated model of understanding fear experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2020; 17(2): 41-45.

Ahola K: Occupational Burnout and Health. Finland Institute of Occupational Health, 2007: 119.

Duan X, Ni X, Shi L, et al.: The impact of workplace violence on job satisfaction, job burnout, and turnover intention: The mediating role of social support. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2019; 17(1): 93. DOI:10.1186/s12955-019-1164-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-019-1164-3

Willard-Grace R, Knox M, Huang B, et al.: Burnout and health care workforce turnover. Ann Fam Med. 2019; 17(1): 36-41. DOI:10.1370/afm.2338. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2338

Dubey R, Gunasekaran A, Altay N, et al.: Understanding employee turnover in humanitarian organizations. Ind Commer Train. 2016; 48(4): 208-214. DOI:10.1108/ICT-10-2015-0067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-10-2015-0067

Barthauer L, Kaucher P, Spurk D, et al.: Burnout and career (un)sustainability: Looking into the Blackbox of burnout triggered career turnover intentions. J Vocat Behav. 2020; 117: 103334. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103334

Chen L-K: Older adults and COVID-19 pandemic: Resilience matters. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020; 89: 104124. DOI:10.1016/j. archger.2020.104124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2020.104124

Tso WWY, Wong RS, Tung KTS, et al.: Vulnerability and resil¬ience in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Published online November 17, 2020. DOI:10.1007/ s00787-020-01680-8.

Chen S, Bonanno GA: Psychological adjustment during the global outbreak of COVID-19: A resilience perspective. Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2020; 12(S1). DOI:10.1037/ tra0000685. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000685

Fletcher D, Sarkar M: Psychological resilience. Eur Psychol. Published online 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000124

Rushton CH, Batcheller J, Schroeder K, et al.: Burnout and resilience among nurses practicing in high-intensity settings. Am J Crit Care. 2015; 24(5): 412-420. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2015291

Burnett HJ: The compassion fatigue and resilience connection: A survey of resilience, compassion fatigue, burnout, and compas¬sion satisfaction among trauma responders. Int J Emerg Ment Health Hum Resil. 2015; 17(1). DOI:10.4172/1522-4821.1000165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/1522-4821.1000165

Killgore WDS, Cloonan SA, Taylor EC, et al.: Loneliness: A sig¬nature mental health concern in the era of COVID-19. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 290: 113117. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113117

Schaufeli W, Leiter M, Maslach C, et al.: MBI-general survey. Palo Alto. Published online 1996.

Smith BW, Dalen J, Wiggins K, et al.: The brief resilience scale: Assessing the ability to bounce back. Int J Behav Med. 2008; 15(3): 194-200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10705500802222972

Ali Shah I, Fakhr Z, Ahmad MS, et al.: Measuring push, pull and personal factors affecting turnover intention: A case of university teachers in Pakistan. Rev Econ Bus Stud. 2010; 3(1): 167-192.

Scanlan JN, Still M: Job satisfaction, burnout and turnover intention in occupational therapists working in mental health. Aust Occup Ther J. 2013; 60: 310-318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12067

County Population Totals: 2010-2019. United States Census Bureau. Published March 2020. Available at https://www.census. gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-counties-total. html#par_textimage_70769902. Accessed February 10, 2021.

The New York Times: Coronavirus (Covid-19) data in the United States.. Published 2021. Available at https://github.com/nytimes/ covid-19-data. Accessed February 10, 2021.

World Health Organization: Public Health Criteria to Adjust Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of COVID-19: Annex to Considerations in Adjusting Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of COVID-19, 12 May 2020. World Health Organization, 2020. Available at https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/332073. Accessed February 15, 2021.

Adini B, Goldberg A, Cohen R, et al.: Evidence-based support for the all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2012; 1(1): 40. DOI:10.1186/2045-4015-1-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-4015-1-40

Bayntun C: A health system approach to all-hazards dis¬aster management: A systematic review. PLoS Curr. 2012; 4. DOI:10.1371/50081cad5861d. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/50081cad5861d

O’Driscoll MP, Beehr TA: Supervisor behaviors, role stress¬ors and uncertainty as predictors of personal outcomes for sub¬ordinates. J Organ Behav. 1994; 15(2): 141-155. DOI:10.1002/ job.4030150204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/job.4030150204

Olk M, Friedlander M: Trainees’ experiences of role conflict and role ambiguity in supervisory relationships. J Couns Psychol. 1992; 39: 389-397. DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.39.3.389. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-0167.39.3.389

Tims M, Bakker AB, Derks D: Development and validation of the job crafting scale. J Vocat Behav. 2012; 80(1): 173-186. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.009

Wrzesniewski A, Dutton JE: Crafting a job: Revisioning employ¬ees as active crafters of their work. Acad Manage Rev. 2001; 26(2): 179-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/259118

Zhang F, Parker SK: Reorienting job crafting research: A hier¬archical structure of job crafting concepts and integrative review. J Organ Behav. 2019; 40(2): 126-146. DOI:10.1002/job.2332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2332

Singh V, Singh M: A burnout model of job crafting: Multiple mediator effects on job performance. IIMB Manag Rev. 2018; 30(4): 305-315. DOI:10.1016/j.iimb.2018.05.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iimb.2018.05.001

Tims M, Derks D: The impact of job crafting on job demands, job resources, and well-being. J Occup Health Psychol. 2013; 18. DOI:10.1037/a0032141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032141

Barello S, Palamenghi L, Graffigna G: Burnout and somatic symptoms among frontline healthcare professionals at the peak of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 290: 113129. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113129

Dimitriu MCT, Pantea-Stoian A, Smaranda AC, et al.: Burnout syndrome in Romanian medical residents in time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Med Hypotheses. 2020; 144: 109972. DOI:10.1016/j. mehy.2020.109972. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109972

Sasangohar F, Jones SL, Masud FN, et al.: Provider burnout and fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from a high-volume intensive care unit. Anesth Analg. Published online April 20, 2020. DOI:10.1213/ANE.0000000000004866. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000004866

Shah K, Chaudhari G, Kamrai D, et al.: How essential is it to focus on physician’s health and burnout in coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Cureus. 2020; 12(4). DOI:10.7759/cureus.7538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7538

Korff VP, Balbo N, Mills M, et al.: The impact of humani¬tarian context conditions and individual characteristics on aid worker retention. Disasters. 2015; 39(3): 522-545. DOI:10.1111/ disa.12119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12119

Telford J, Cosgrave J: The international humanitarian system and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis. Disasters. 2007; 31(1): 1-28. DOI:10.1111/j.1467-7717.2007.00337.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2007.00337.x

Tomasini RM, Wassenhove LNV: From preparedness to partnerships: Case study research on humanitarian logistics. Int Trans Oper Res. 2009; 16(5): 549-559. DOI:10.1111/j.1475- 3995.2009.00697.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-3995.2009.00697.x

Montero-Marin J, Tops M, Manzanera R, et al.: Mindfulness, resilience, and burnout subtypes in primary care physicians: The possible mediating role of positive and negative affect. Front Psychol. 2015; 6. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01895. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01895

Shakir HJ, Cappuzzo JM, Shallwani H, et al.: Relationship of grit and resilience to burnout among US neurosurgery resi¬dents. World Neurosurg. 2020; 134: e224-e236. DOI:10.1016/j. wneu.2019.10.043. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2019.10.043

Taku K: Relationships among perceived psychological growth, resilience and burnout in physicians. Personal Individ Differ. 2014; 59: 120-123. DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2013.11.003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.11.003

Kossek E, Perrigino M: Resilience: A review using a grounded integrated occupational approach. Acad Manag Ann. 2016; 10: 1-69. DOI:10.1080/19416520.2016.1159878. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/19416520.2016.1159878

Mayordomo T, Viguer P, Sales A, et al.: Resilience and coping as predictors of well-being in adults. J Psychol. 2016; 150(7): 809-821. DOI:10.1080/00223980.2016.1203276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2016.1203276

Wingerden J van, Bakker AB, Derks D: A test of a job demands-resources intervention. J Manag Psychol. 2016; 31(3): 686-701. DOI:10.1108/JMP-03-2014-0086. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-03-2014-0086

Pelfrene E, Vlerick P, Moreau M, et al.: Perceptions of job inse¬curity and the impact of world market competition as health risks: Results from Belstress. J Occup Organ Psychol. 2003; 76(4): 411-425. DOI:10.1348/096317903322591569. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1348/096317903322591569

World Health Organization: Health emergency and disas¬ter risk management framework. Published 2019. Available at https://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/preparedness/health-emergency-and-disaster-risk-management-framework-eng.pdf. Accessed February 15, 2021.

Bodas M, Kirsch TD, Peleg K: Top hazards approach – Rethinking the appropriateness of the All-Hazards approach in disaster risk management. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2020; 47: 101559. DOI:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101559. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101559

Peleg K, Bodas M, Hertelendy AJ, et al.: The COVID-19 pan¬demic challenge to the All-Hazards approach for disaster plan¬ning. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2021; 55: 102103. DOI:10.1016/j. ijdrr.2021.102103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102103

Maxwell SE, Cole DA: Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation. Psychol Methods. 2007; 12(1): 23-44. DOI:10.1037/1082-989X.12.1.23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.12.1.23

Maxwell SE, Cole DA, Mitchell MA: Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation: Partial and complete mediation under an autoregressive model. Multivar Behav Res. 2011; 46(5): 816-841. DOI:10.1080/00273171.2011.606716. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00273171.2011.606716

Published

07/01/2021

How to Cite

Merlo, PhD, K. L., K. M. Conen, BA, B. Scott, MPH, K. Jones, MA, E. A. Dunn, MPH, CPH, and J. Marshall, PhD. “Burnout in the Disaster Response Workforce: The Impact of Work Roles and the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 19, no. 9, July 2021, pp. 81-90, doi:10.5055/jem.0593.