Managing burnout and wellbeing

Experiencing job stress is part and parcel of employment. When mismanaged, job stress can lead to burnout, which is detrimental to both individual wellbeing and organizational outcomes. When well managed, work engagement and work performance are enhanced. Current understanding of burnout is largely based on the Western workplace context. As culture can shape one’s social identity, perceptions of and emotional responses to the social environment, the authors suggest a need to consider how the causes and psychological mechanisms of burnout may vary depending on the cultural context. In this chapter, they first review theories of burnout that are based on the principle of fit. Next, they highlight key cultural differences - focusing on the independent versus interdependent cultural distinction - in self-construal, thinking styles and power distance orientation, and outline several novel hypotheses regarding how burnout might manifest among culturally interdependent Asians. Finally, using the same cultural lens, the authors outline key management strategies that can help organizations in Asia to play a more active role in reducing burnout and improving workplace wellbeing.