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Job Seekers’ Burnout and Engagement: A Qualitative Study of Long-Term Unemployment in Italy

Author

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  • Marcello Nonnis

    (Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Mirian Agus

    (Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Gianmarco Frau

    (Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Antonio Urban

    (Cagliari University Hospital, 09124 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Claudio Giovanni Cortese

    (Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy)

Abstract

Long-term unemployment has major consequences from an economic, physical and psychosocial perspective. Several authors have pointed out that the search for employment is in itself work, which can generate feelings of exhaustion of psychophysical energies, cynicism and disinvestment, as well as a sense of ineffectiveness to the point of complete disillusion. The construct of burnout can be used to describe this psychological process. This study evaluated the burnout and engagement dimensions in individuals searching for work for a long time, from a qualitative perspective. Fifty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of long-term unemployed job seekers (Sardinia, Italy), based on Maslach’s model of burnout (exhaustion, cynicism, effectiveness in job search). The answers to the semi-structured interviews were processed through T-Lab, a semi-automatic textual analysis software. Four thematic cores emerged: exhaustion vs. engagement, cynicism vs. trust, inefficacy vs. efficacy in job search and disillusion vs. hope. This result is consistent with the four-dimensional theoretical model of burnout, originally proposed by Edelwich and Brodsky, recently taken up by Santinello, and framed as the opposite of engagement, as shown in the JD-R model. This study highlights that burnout can describe the psychosocial experiences of long-term unemployed job seekers.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcello Nonnis & Mirian Agus & Gianmarco Frau & Antonio Urban & Claudio Giovanni Cortese, 2023. "Job Seekers’ Burnout and Engagement: A Qualitative Study of Long-Term Unemployment in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:11:p:5968-:d:1157104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Morrish, N. & Medina-Lara, A., 2021. "Does unemployment lead to greater levels of loneliness? A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    2. Marcello Nonnis & Mirian Agus & Monica Piera Pirrone & Stefania Cuccu & Maria Luisa Pedditzi & Claudio Giovanni Cortese, 2021. "Burnout and Engagement Dimensions in the Reception System of Illegal Immigration in the Mediterranean Sea. A Qualitative Study on a Sample of Italian Practitioners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Luthans, Fred & Luthans, Kyle W. & Luthans, Brett C., 2004. "Positive psychological capital: beyond human and social capital," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 45-50.
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    5. Carlos-María Alcover & Sergio Salgado & Gabriela Nazar & Raúl Ramírez-Vielma & Carolina González-Suhr, 2022. "Job Insecurity, Financial Threat, and Mental Health in the COVID-19 Context: The Moderating Role of the Support Network," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    6. Antonio Chirumbolo & Antonino Callea & Flavio Urbini, 2021. "The Effect of Job Insecurity and Life Uncertainty on Everyday Consumptions and Broader Life Projects during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-20, May.
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    1. Marcello Nonnis & Mirian Agus & Francesca Corona & Nicola Aru & Antonio Urban & Claudio Giovanni Cortese, 2024. "The Role of Fulfilment and Disillusion in the Relationship between Burnout and Career Satisfaction in Italian Healthcare Workers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-15, January.

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