Professional burnout and work engagement among dentists
Hans Te Brake1, Anne-Marthe Bouman, Ronald Gorter
1Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Universiteit van Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. H.teBrake@nivel.nl
European Journal of Oral Sciences
|June 26, 2007
Summary
Dentists report low burnout and high work engagement, with engagement negatively correlating to burnout. This study validates the three-factor structure of work engagement in dental professionals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Dental Professional Studies
Background:
- Burnout research is evolving to explore its opposite, work engagement.
- Understanding work engagement is crucial for improving the well-being of dental practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the concepts of burnout and work engagement.
- To assess the prevalence of burnout and work engagement among dentists.
- To examine the relationship between burnout and work engagement in this population.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 497 Dutch general dental practitioners.
- The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) measured work engagement (vigor, dedication, absorption).
- The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) assessed burnout levels.
Main Results:
- The three-factor structure of work engagement was confirmed in dentists.
- Work engagement showed a significant negative relationship with burnout.
- A refined model combining core burnout and enhanced engagement factors demonstrated the best fit.
- Dentists exhibited low overall burnout and high work engagement levels.
Conclusions:
- Dentists generally experience low levels of burnout.
- High work engagement suggests a positive professional attitude among dentists.
- The findings support the conceptualization of work engagement as the inverse of burnout in the dental profession.
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