Burnout and work engagement for different age groups: examining group-level differences and predictors

Abstract

This study examined age-related differences of burnout and engagement levels among employees in the South African financial sector, including influences of perceived job characteristics and personal sense of coherence. Data on burnoutand work engagement, job characteristics and sense of coherence were collected from a convenience sample of 582 of junior managers (females = 55.50%, majority language was English, 54.1%). The results from this study reveal that young and middle-aged employees experience higher levels of exhaustion when compared to older employees, while older employees seemed to be more dedicated than their younger counterparts. Different job demands and resources seemed to predict burnout and work engagement of the three age groups. SOC was a significant predictor of burnout and work engagement across the three age groups. To conclude, the results of this study highlight the differences in the antecedents of employee well-being. These differences can therefore not be ignored in the workplace.