Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Dr. John Meyer

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted in response to recent concerns regarding the redundancy/independence of two related constructs in I/O Psychology: Burnout and engagement. Using students in an academic context, I first addressed this issue by investigating the incremental validity of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) over the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and vice versa in the prediction of six criterion variables (academic performance, physical ill-being, positive affect, negative affect, subjective experience of growth, eudaimonic well-being) in a sample of undergraduate students. Contrary to the recent meta-analysis by Cole, Walter, Bedeian, and O’Boyle (2012), I did not find evidence for construct redundancy. Engagement seems better suited to the prediction of positive outcomes (e.g., subjective experience of growth) whereas burnout seems better suited to the prediction of negative outcomes (e.g., physical ill-being). Next, I sought to address whether the constructs of burnout and engagement might be better conceptualized as simply different amalgamations of energy and evaluation. In that regard, I provide the first attempt at direct replication of Demerouti, Mostert, and Bakker’s (2010) recent investigation in an academic context. Based on a series of confirmatory factor analyses, I failed to find evidence in support of the contention that engagement and burnout would be better conceptualized as different amalgamations of energy and evaluation. In that regard, I failed to replicate the findings of Demerouti et al. (2010). I discuss theoretical and practical implications of this investigation as well various limitations and possible future directions.

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